204 DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. Genista. 



like two expanding hands, with four fingers to each. Antk. 



yellow. 



Plant bitter ; in infusion, about a quarter of a pint, daily in the 

 morning fasting, expectorant in catarrhous cough : in powder, dose 

 of the root three grains. 



DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 



SPA'RTIUM. Broom. 



S. scopdrium,^ Common B. Leaves in threes, or soli- 

 tary. Branches angular, without thorns. Filaments 

 all in one set at the base. Legume fringed. E. B. 

 1339. C. 5. 52. Genista. G. E. 1311. 



Dry, yraveUy thickets, fields.* Henley. Sb. (Bagley Wood. Bx.) 

 Stem strong, tough. Branches numerous, straight, smooth, ever- 

 green. Ls. deciduous, often simple on the upper end of the 

 branch. FL mostly solitary, axillary, drooping, large, bright 

 yellow, often orange outwardly. Stam. monadelphous at the 

 base, four long, and six short. Style twisted almost into a 

 circle. Seeds polished. 



Broom tea, a useful remedy in dropsy. The seeds, and ashes) 

 have been also used with the same indication. Young ^., some- 

 times pickled. The black, ripe pod discharges its seeds by an 

 elastic movement. A flaxy substance has been procured from thi& 

 plant. The twigs for carpet brooms. 



GENISTA. Green-weed. 



G. tinctoria. Dyerh Or. Wood-waxen. Leaves 

 spear-shaped, smooth. Branches round, slightly fur- 

 rowed, erect, without thorns. E. B. 44. Genistella 

 tinctoria. G. E. 1316. 



Pastures, thickets, dry borders of fields. * Under Headington Wick 

 Copse. Southleigh. Henley. Sb. Finmere. R. Pr. Head- 

 ington Copse. (Beyond South Hinksey. Bx.) 



Shrub. June. 



Branches low in growth. Fl. bright yellow. Pod nearly cylin- 

 dric, Ls. alternate, stalkless, undivided. Fl.-ls. shorter than 

 the blossom. 

 Seeds mildly purgative. 

 Plant dyes a good yellow colour ; with woad a good green. 



Milk of cows feeding upon it is rendered bitter. Ray. 



G. dnglica. Needle Gr. Petty Whin. Thorns nearly 



' From Scopa, a broom. 



