Leguminose—Cytisus. 121 
more or less two-lipped. A considerable genus, nearly all the 
species from the Mediterranean region. The origin of the 
name is obscure. 
1. C. scoparius (fig. 68), syn. Genista, Spdrtiwm and 
Sarothamnus. Common Broom.—This is common throughout 
Britain, varying from 2 to 6 feet in height according to 
situation, etc. The slender branches are silky, hairy, and 
angular, and the flowers bright yellow, in May or June. The 
most remarkable characteristic of this species is the spirally 
coiled style. There are several varieties, including a white 
and a double-flowered variety. 
2. C. purpireus.—A glabrous shrub about 3 feet high with 
slender ascending or pendulous branches and 3-foliolate leaves. 
Leaflets obovate. Flowers lateral, usually two together, dull 
-purple, rosy purple, or white. This species, crossed with the 
Common Laburnum, gave rise to the remarkable hybrid alluded 
to above; but writers are by no means agreed as to the origin 
of it. Some assert that it is a graft-hybrid, while others incline 
to the more probable opinion that it is of sexual origin. 
3. C. nigricans.—A pretty shrub about 3 feet high with 
small 3-foliolate leaves and terminal erect racemes of yellow 
flowers. This is one of the most ornamental of this group, 
bearing racemes of flowers about 6 inches long in June and 
July. It isa native of Austria. 
Amongst others in cultivation are: C. capitatus, a very 
hairy species with the flowers in a dense terminal head; C. 
argénteus, with silvery foliage and axillary yellow flowers; and 
C. sessilifolius, with sessile leaves and terminal yellow flowers. 
Tape UL.—TRIFOLIES, 
Herbs, rarely shrubs. Leaves pinnately (rarely digitately) 
3-foliolate; veins usually ending in teeth. Upper stamen 
usually free. 
There are scarcely any species of this tribe grown for decora- 
tive purposes, though some of the Clovers are highly orna- 
mental. The best are Trifoliwm rubens, dark red; 7. élegans, 
pink; TZ. ochroleucum, yellowish white; and 7. incarnatum, 
an annual, bright scarlet. The genus Medicago is remark- 
able for the great diversity in the form of the pods in different 
species. IJt is spirally twisted, resembling a shell, and variously 
sculptured or furnished with spines, or quite plain. 
