468 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 
or browsed by the Buffalo, from which it derives its com- 
mon name. The tree is graceful in its appearance, grow- 
ing from ten to thirteen feet high; the branches are rather 
pendulous; the leaves are small, of a soft, woolly nature, 
and have a silvery appearance. It has staminate and 
pistillate flowers on different plants, hence both kinds 
should be grown together. The branches of the female 
trees are thickly studded with clusters of small crimson 
berries, nearly the size of the red currant. The fruit has 
a pleasant acid flavor, and is sometimes used for jelly or 
preserve. There is an astringent taste in addition to the 
acid, which makes the fruit of little value, in comparison 
with the common currant. For an ornamental tree or 
shrub, it deserves a place among other plants. It is beau- 
tiful in fruit. The flowers cannot boast of much beauty. 
SPARTIUM.—Broom. 
[From the Greek, signifying corduge; the earliest ropes were made of this 
and similar plants.] : 
Spartium scop4rium.— Common Broom. —A shrub, 
thick-set with verdant, flexible, rush-like twigs, which are 
very ornamental in winter, and generally profusely cov- 
ered with showy, white, or yellow, pea-shaped flowers in 
summer. A very ornamental shrub in the garden scenery. 
It is not very common in New England, as our winters 
are rather severe upon it. In the interior of the country, 
we find no difficulty in keeping it, when the snows are 
deep. If planted on the north side of a wall, and covered 
with snow, it will be found perfectly green in the spring, 
and will flower abundantly. 
