126 LETTER VIII. 



golden tlovvers, Furze (Ulex europseus), and Broom 

 (Spartium scoparium), which are almost too beautiful 

 to be inhabitants of northern countries, French Ho- 

 neysuckles (Hedysarum coronarium), with their crim- 

 son clusters ; and the singular Bladder Senna (Colutea 

 arborescens), the pods of which explode with a loud 

 report when smartly pressed between the fingers, are 

 species of Papilionaceous plants of frequent occur- 

 rence : all which it would be well for you to study, 

 and compare with the characters you will find in 

 systematic works. Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria), which 

 has proved so valuable as a dye, you will not meet 

 with easily in this country ; but you may procure the 

 Liquorice plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra), the roots of which 

 are so exceedingly sweet. 



Ths second group of Papilionaceous flowers, with 

 the stamens separate, comprehends the chief part of 

 the showy New Holland shrubs, called PultenceUy 

 Gompholohium, Daviesia, &c., but not a single Eu- 

 ropean species, nor any thing worth pointing out for 

 its utility. 



The next division of the Pea tribe consists of the 

 Cassias and their allies, which are remarkable for not 

 having Papilionaceous flowers ; — in place of which 

 they have their petals spreading equally round the 

 pistil, as in other plants ; their stamens are also 

 usually spreading and separate. The irregularity of 

 growth which causes the Papilionaceous appearance in 

 the last division, also exists among these plants, so 

 that you will generally find them with some of the 

 petals or the stamens larger than the remainder. 



