18 FAMILIAR TREES 



"posterior" one is generally larger, overlapping the 

 edges of two others, and in such an erect position as to 

 be termed the " standard " or vexil'lura; the two lateral 

 ones, thus overlapped, are termed the " wings " or alee, 

 and in turn overlap the edges of the remaining 

 " anterior " two, which are more or less united into 

 a boat-like structure, and are, therefore, termed the 

 " keel " or cari'na. There are always ten stamens, 

 which are generally either all united into a tube, or 

 nine of them are so, while the upper or posterior 

 one is not. Lastly, there is a single carpel forming 

 the usually many-seeded pod or " legume," which is 

 often laterally compressed and so contributes to a 

 general two-sidedness or bilateral symmetry in the> 

 flower. 



Two trees belonging to this Sub-order, neither 

 truly indigenous, are sufficiently familiar to be in- 

 cluded in our list : one, the Laburnum, being European; 

 the other, the so-called Acacia, North American. 



The Laburnum (Cytisus Labv/rnum L.) is a native 

 of mountainous woods in Central Europe. It has long 

 been cultivated for the beauty of its blossoms through- 

 out Europe ; but no record exists as to the date of its 

 introc^ction into Britain. Pliny's description of it, if 

 indeed it does refer to this tree, hardly seems to 

 be based upon personal knowledge. It is, he say-s, 

 " averse to water, a native of the Alps, and far from 

 generally known : the wood is hard and white, and the 

 flowers, which are a cubit in length, no bee will ever 

 touch." 



Though it grows freely from seed and is not 

 particular as to soil, the Laburnum does not occur- as 



