LEGUMINOS^ 117 



axillary cymes, unisexual, greenish, very small. Petals narrow or 

 wanting. Sepals with 4 lanceolate lobes. 



Calcareous rocks of the Alps and lower Alps up to about 7200 feet, 

 and occasionally higher in Savoie. June, July. 



Distribution. — Eastern, Central, and Western Alps; Pyrenees, 

 Corbieres, Bavaria. 



Rhamnus alpina L. Alpine Buckthorn. 



A much larger (erect) shrub, x-^ yards high. Leaves large, oval, 

 suddenly contracted into a triangular apex, or sometimes obtuse, 

 lateral veins, 8-14. Flowers similar. Lobes of the calyx triangular. 



Dry, rocky places, and among debris up to 5500 feet. May, June. 



Distribution. — ^Western Europe, Jura, Alps, Cevennes, Corbieres, 

 Pyrenees, Italy, Switzerland, Sardinia, Spain ; Morocco, Algeria, 

 Western Asia. 



LEGUMINOS^ 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with alternate and generally compound 

 leaves, usually furnished with stipules. Flowers very irregular, 

 consisting of 5 petals, the upper one, called the standard, usually 

 the broadestj the two lateral ones called wings are between the 

 standard and the two lower ones which are inside of all and united 

 more or less by their outer edges into a single one called the keel. 

 Stamens 10, the filaments united into a sheath or the upper one 

 distinct. Ovary i-celled, with 1-2 or more ovules arranged in i or 2 

 rows on the ventral suture. Fruit a legume or pod, usually opening 

 in two valves. Seeds with two large cotyledons. 



A very large family of some 7000 species, widely spread over the 

 globe. An enormous number of species are found in Southern 

 Europe. 



Genista L. 



Low branching shrubs or under-shrubs, with usually simple or 

 rarely trifoliate leaves and yellow flowers. Calyx with 5 teeth, the 

 2 upper much longer. Standard oblong. Keel usually reflexed after 

 flowering. Stamens all united in a sheath. Pod longer than the 

 calyx. 



A large genus, chiefly Mediterranean and from Western Asia. 

 Some species are not easily separated from Cytisus and other allied 

 genera. 

 Genista sagittalis L. (Plate XV.) [Cytisus sagittalis Koch.) 



A small green under-shrub. Stem rampant, with ascending 

 branches which are herbaceous and have 3 leafy wings compressed 

 at each node. Leaves few, simple, sessile, lanceolate, no stipules. 

 Flowers numerous, in dense, terminal heads. Calyx hairy, with 

 unequal lobes. Standard glabrous, equalling the keel. Pod 15-20 

 mm. by 5, cpmpressed, pointed, hairy, with 3-6 seeds. 



