176 



ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



PART III. 



p. 3'29.) that he has seen both flowers and seed vessels, which do not differ 

 in any material point from those of U. nana. We have no doubt in our 

 own mind of its being only a variety of U. europae v a; but we have pre- 

 served it distinct, because it is truly so in its habit, and most important 

 in its uses. Its value as a forage plant, in deep soils, can hardly be over- 

 rated ; and, perhaps, in this capacity, it may be found a valuable acquisition 

 to Australia, India, and North America. 



Genus V. 



STAURACA'NTHUS Link. The St aur acanthus, or Leafless Furze. 

 Lin. Syst. Monadelphia Decandria. 



Identification. Link in Schrad. N. Journ., 2. p. 1. and 52. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 148. 

 Synonyme. LTlex sp. Brot. 



Derivation. From stauros, a cross, and akantha, a spine"; in allusion to the spines, each of which 

 has two smaller spines proceeding from its sides, which give it the appearance of a cross. 



il. S. aphy'llus Link. The leafless Stauracanthus. 

 U s \e\ genistoides Brot. Fl. Lns. ,ii. p. 78. ; and £/ v lex mitis Hort. This is 

 the only species of the genus known. It is a leafless shrub, with the habit 

 of CTlex, having divaricate branches ; and is a native of Spain and Portugal, 

 in sandy pine woods, where it grows to the height of from 2 ft. to 3 ft. It 

 was introduced in 1823, and produces its yellow flowers in May and June. 

 It is readily increased by cuttings planted in sand under a hand-glass, or by 

 seeds. Plants of it were in the garden of the London Horticultural Society 

 in 1835. 



Genus VI. 



SPA'RTIUM Dec. The Spartium, or Spanish BnooM. Lin.Syst. 

 Monadelphia Decandria. 



Identification. Lin. Sp., 995. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 145. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 148. 

 Synonymes. SpartianthusLmfc Enum., 2. p. 223. ; Genista sp. Lam. and Moench. 

 Derivation. From sparton, cordage ; in allusion to the use of the plant in early ages generally, and 

 in Spain, even to the present day, for making ropes. 



S. ji/nceum L. The Rush-like Spartium, or Spanish B< 



room. 



Spartianthus j'unceus 



Identification. Lin. Sp., 995. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 145. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 148. 

 Synonymes. Genista juncea Lam. and Du Ham. ; G. odorata Moench 



Mcench ; Genet d'Espagne, Fr. ; Binsenartige Pfriemen, Ger. 

 Engravings. N. Du Ham., 2. t. 22. ; Bot. Mag., t. 85. ; and our fig. 266. 



Variety. 



M & j. S fibre plino has double flowers. 



Description, Geography, fyc. A shrub, with upright 

 branches, round, of a deep green colour, smooth, and 

 with but few leaves, which are lanceolate, and soon 

 drop off. The flowers are few, disposed in terminal 

 racemes, large, distant, and of a deep yellow. It is a 

 native of Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the south of 

 France, in rocky situations, and upon dry gravelly 

 soils. In its native country, it grows to the height of 

 from 5 ft. to 8 ft.; but it attains to nearly double that 

 height in British gardens, into which it was introduced 

 in 1548. 



I'rojjertics and Uses. In Italy and the south of France, a very good cloth 

 is rnamnVturcd from the fibres of this plant. The shoots are cut over in the 



