PLATE XV. 



ANTHYLLIS ERINACEA. 



Blue Broom of Spain. 



CLASS XVII. ORDER III. 

 D IAD E L PHI A D E CANDR I A. Chives in two fete. Ten Chives. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Calyx. Perianthium monophylkim, ovato- 

 oblongum, parum inflatum, villofam ; ore 

 quinquedentato, inaequali ; perfiltens. 



Corolla papilionacea : 



Vexillum longius, lateribus reflexis, ungue 



longitudine calycis. 



Alae duas, oblongx, vexillo breviores. 



Carina compreffa, longitudine alarum, alis 

 fimilis. 



Stamina. Filamenta decern, connata, alTur- 

 gentia. Antherse fimplices. 



Pistillum. Germen oblongum. Stylus (im- 

 plex, adfeendens. Stigma obtufum. 



Pericarpium. Legumen fubrotundum, tectum 

 intra calycem, minimum, bivalve. 



Semen unum, alterumve. 



Empalemf.xt. Cup of one leaf, oblong egg- 

 fhaped, a little fwelled, and hairy ; mouth 

 cut into rive unequal teeth; permanent. 



Blossom, butterfly-Shaped. 



Standard longer, fides bent back, the claws 



as long as the cut. 



Wings two, oblong, Shorter than the 



flandard. 



Keel compreSfed, as long as the wings, and 



like them. 



Chives. Ten threads, connected, rifing up- 

 wards. Tips fimple. 



Tointal. Seed-bud oblong. Shaft fimple, 

 afcending. Summit blunt. 

 Seed-vessel. Pod roundifh, covered by the 

 cup, very fmall, of two valves. 



Seeds. One or two. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Anthyllis fruticofa, fpinofa ; foliis fimplicibus ; 

 floribus ex caeruleo purpurafcentibus. 



Broom, Shrubby, and covered with prickles; 

 leaves fimple; blofibms of a purplifh blue. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 



1. The Cup. 



2. A Bloflbm, the cup taken off to fliew the exact: fituation and Shape of its various parts. 



3. The Chives, as they indole the pointal (natural fize.) 



4. The Threads magnified, and cut open, to fhew their tubular Shape. 



5. The Pointal, magnified. 



Owing to the difficulty in propagating and preferving fome plants, although frequently introduced 

 to us, and well known ; yet are they more fcarce to be found, in our belt collections, than plants of 

 feemingly more difficult acquifition. This fpecies of Anthyllis has been mentioned under various 

 fynonyms by molt botanical authors from Cluiius downwards. Mr. T. Johnfon, in his edition of 

 Gerard of 1633, has given a description of this plant from Clufius, and a cut; both of which are 

 excellent (confidering the then infant flate of the art of engraving), under the title of Genifta 

 fpinofa humilis; Dwarf Furze. It is termed Erinacea by Clufius (fays he), from the Spanifli name 

 of the hedge-hog, Erizo, of which country it is a native, in the kingdom of Valencia : from which 

 we might infer, that, like other plants of that country, it would live through our winters ; which is 

 not the cafe. It mult be kept as a greenhoufe plant, and watered but Sparingly. The foil it prefer* 

 is a light loam; is propagated by cuttings, and flowers in April, or May. 



