Leguminoscz Cytisus. 1 2 1 



more or less two-lipped. A considerable genus, nearly all the 

 species from the Mediterranean region. The origin of the 

 name is obscure. 



1. C. scopdrius (fig. 68), syn. Genista, Spdrtium and 

 Sarothdmnus. Common Broom. This is common throughout 

 Britain, varying from 2 to 6 feet in height according to 

 situation, etc. The slender branches are silky, hairy, and 

 angular, and the flowers bright yellow, in May or June. The 

 most remarkable characteristic of this species is the spirally 

 coiled style. There are several varieties, including a white 

 and a double-flowered variety. 



2. C. pui^pureus. A glabrous shrub about 3 feet high with 

 slender ascending or pendulous branches and 3-foliolate leaves. 

 Leaflets obovate. Flowers lateral, usually two together, dull 

 purple, rosy purple, or white. This species, crossed with the 

 Common Laburnum, gave rise to the remarkable hybrid alluded 

 to above ; but writers are by no means agreed as to the origin 

 of it. Some assert that it is a graft-hybrid, while others incline 

 to the more probable opinion that it is of sexual origin. 



3. C. nigricans. A pretty shrub about 3 feet high with 

 small 3-foliolate leaves and terminal erect racemes of yellow 

 flowers. This is one of the most ornamental 'of this group, 

 bearing racemes of flowers about 6 inches long in June and 

 July. It is a native of Austria. 



Amongst others in cultivation are : C. capitaius, a very 

 hairy species with the flowers in a dense terminal head ; (7. 

 argenteus, with silvery foliage and axillary yellow flowers ; and 

 C. sessilifolius, with sessile leaves and terminal yellow flowers. 



TRIBE Ul.TRIFOLIEjE. 



Herbs, rarely shrubs. Leaves pinnntely (rarely digitately) 

 3-foliolate ; veins usually ending in teeth. Upper stamen 

 usually free. 



There are scarcely any species of this tribe grown for decora- 

 tive purposes, though some of the Clovers are highly orna- 

 mental. The best are Trifdlium rubens, dark red; T. elegans, 

 pink ; T. ochroleucum, yellowish white ; and T. incarndtum, 

 an annual, bright scarlet. The genus Medicdgo is remark- 

 able for the great diversity in the form of the pods in different 

 species. It is spirally twisted, resembling a shell, and variously 

 sculptured or furnished with spines, or quite plain. 



