138 



BLADDER SENNA. — COLUTEA. 



Natural order. Papilionacece, or Leguminosce. 

 A genus of the Diadelphia Decandria class. 



— — " Various trees their various fruits produce, 

 Some for delightful taste, and some for use; 

 Hence sprouting plants enrich the plain and wood, 

 For physic some, and some design'd for food." 



" How useful all ! how all conspire to grace 

 Th* extended earth, and beautify her face !" 



Blackmore. 



The dramatic author seeks for singularity 

 of character to make his comedy amusing, 

 which at the same time acts like a foil to ren- 

 der his beauties more brilliant, whilst the in- 

 sipid novelist, who treats us only with lilies 

 and roses, sees them wither unnoticed for 

 want of contrast. 



Thus we introduce the colutea arborescens 

 into our shrubbery, not so much for the 

 beauty of its dingy yellow papilionaceous blos- 

 soms, as for its curious inflated and transpa- 

 rent bladder-like legumes, which being slightly 

 suspended from the slender spray, have a 

 novel and odd effect between the winged 

 leaves of this plant, which are composed of 



