244 ARBORETUM ET FRUTICETUM BRITANNICUM. 
an object at once singular, picturesque, and beautiful, whether when covered 
with blossoms, or with its fine reddish pods. 
Genus XVI. 
at ail 
Z 1 
COLU‘TEA R&R. Br. Tus Courses, or BLADDER SENNA, Lin. Syst. 
Diadélphia Decandria. 
Identification. R. Br. in Hort. Kew., ed. 2., vol. 4. p. 325.; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 270.; Don’s Mill, 2. 
ne aie, Baguenaudier, Fr.; Senna falsa, [/a/.; Blasenbaum, Ger. 
Derivation. From koloud, to amputate. The shrubs are said to die if the branches are lopped off. 
Koloutea is also the name of a plant mentioned by Theophrastus. 
Gen. Char. Calyx 5-toothed. Vezillum flat, bicallose, larger than the keel, 
which is obtuse. Stamens diadelphous. Stigma lateral, hooked under the 
top of the style. Style bearded longitudinally behind. Legume stipitate, 
ovate, boat-formed, inflated, scarious. (Don’s Mill.) 
Leaves compound, alternate, stipulate, deciduous ; impari-pinnate : stipules 
small. Flowers usually yellow, axillary, the racemes shorter than the leaves, 
and succeeded by bladdery legumes. — Shrubs, deciduous ; natives of the 
Middle and South of Europe, the North of Africa, and Nepal. 
All the kinds that have hitherto been introduced into Europe are probably 
only varieties of one species. They are readily increased by seeds or cuttings 
of the roots on any common soil. 
% 1. C. arsore’scens Lin. The arborescent Colutea, or Bladder Senna. 
Identification. Lin. Sp. 1045.; Dec. Astr., No. 1.; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 270. ; Don’s MilL, 2. p, 245, 
Synonyme, C. hirsita Roth Fl. Germ. 1. p. 305. 
Engravings. N. Du Ham., 1. t. 22.; Schmidt Arb., t.117.; Bot. Mag., t. 81.; and our jig. 400. 
Spec. Char., §c. Leaflets elliptical, retuse. Pe- 
duncles bearing about 6 yellow flowers. Callosities 
of the standard short. Legumes closed. (Dec. 
Prod.) A rapid-growing shrub. Middle and South 
of Europe, Italy, and on Mount Vesuvius is found 
even on the ascent to the crater, where there are 
scarcely any other plants. Height 12 ft. to 14 ft. 
Introduced in 1570. Flowers yellow; June to 
August. Legume bladder-like, reddish; ripe in 
September. 
The bladders, when pressed, explode with a crack- 
ling noise. On the Continent, the leaves have been 
recommended as a substitute for senna, and they are 
also said to afford a grateful food for cattle. The 
seeds, in doses of a drachm or two, are said to excite 
vomiting. In British gardens, the plant is chiefly 
valuable as a bulky fast-growing shrub, of the easiest 400; colntsa arharéscont, 
culture, and fit for almost any situation. 
% 2. C. (4.) crun’NTA Ait, The bloody-fowered Colutea, or Oriental Bladder 
Senna. 
Identification, Ait. Hort. Kew., 3. p. 55.3; Dec. Astr., No. 3.; Don’s Mill, 2. p 245. 
Synonymes. C. orientalis Lam. Dict. 1. p. 353., Jil. 624. f. 3., N. Du Ham. 1. t. 23.; C. sanguinea 
Pall. ; C. aptera Schmidt Arb. t. 119.; C. hdmilis Scop. 
Engravings, Lam. Ml, 624. f.3., N. Du Ham., 1. t. 23.; Schmidt Arb., t. 119.5 Krause, t. 105. ; 
and our fig. 401. 
Spec. Char., §c. Leaflets obovate, emarginate, glaucous. Peduncles bearing 
4—5 flowers. Callosities of the standard obtuse, very small. Legumes 
opening at the tip. Corolla, in colour, between red and saffron-coloured, 
with a yellow spot at the base of the standard. (Dec. Prod.) A glaucous 
