14- ENGLISH BOTANY. 



showing tlie existence of tannic acid. The seeds, when roasted, form no bad sub- 

 stitute for coffee. The wood when it is suffered to attain a sutlicient age is much 

 prized by cabinet-makers, who employ it in veneering. The twigs are used for 

 thatching cottages and ricks, and the whole plant, when burned, yields an ash which 

 contains 29 per cent, of carbonate of potash. The salt of broom, or Sal Genistae, was 

 formerly used in medicine ; so that we may really say that there is not a portion of this 

 plant without its use. 



Medicinally the Broom has long been administered aa a diuretic, and we find 

 that broom-tops are still retained in the New Pharmacopoeia of the United Kingdom, 

 published 18G4. They are given as "the tops fresh and dried fi'om indigenous plants." 

 Dodoen recommended a decoction of the tops in dropsy, and for " stoppages of the 

 liver." The powdered seeds have likewise been administered, and sometimes a tinc- 

 ture is employed. Dr. CuUen recommended a decoction of the plant very strongly, 

 and his testimony is supported by Pereira and others. It is said that Broom acts 

 beneficially in dropsy when all other remedies have failed. Dr. ilead mentions a 

 case of this kind ; and it is recorded that some soldiers of the Swedish army, who 

 suffered from dropsy after an epidemic fever in 1759, were cured by taking a lixivium 

 of the ashes of the Broom. Gerarde abounds in recommendations of this plant, but 

 does not confine its virtues to the only disease for which it is supposed to be effectual, 

 but tells us of all sorts of fleshly ills for which it is an effectual cure. He records 

 " that the worthy prince of famous memory, Henry VIII., king of England, was 

 wont to drinke the distilled water of broom-flowers, against surfets and diseases 

 thereof arising." 



GENUS IV.— O N O N I S. Linn. 



Calyx herbaceous, campanulate, 5-cleft, with long narrowly 

 triangular teeth. Standard broadly oval, keeled on the back, with 

 the lamina spreading ; keel produced at the apex into a sharp- 

 pointed beak directed towards the standard. Stamens mona- 

 delphous, rarely diadelphous. Style very long, geniculate-ascending. 

 Stigma terminal, subcapitate. Pod short, inflated, exserted or 

 included in the calyx. Seeds few, with the funiculus not dilated 

 at the hilum. 



Perennial herbs or undershrubs, often with long woody root- 

 stocks, with or without spines. Leaves stalked, pinnately trifoliate, 

 or the upper ones uuifoliate. Stipules more or less adhering to 

 the petioles. Flowers rose-colour, purple, or yellow, axillary and 

 terminal, sessile, or more often pedunculate. Peduncles 1- or more- 

 flowered. 



The derivation of the name of this genus is from oroj (onos), an ass. One author 

 considers that it refers to the hindrance which it gives to these or other animals when 

 employed at the jjlough ; and another writer says that it was given because some of the 

 species are said to be grateful to asses. 



