580 AHBOKKTUM AND FRUTICLTUM. PART III. 



flfc 9. G. EPHEDRoVdes Dec. The Ephedra-like Genista. 



Identification. Deo. Legum. Mini., G. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 147. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 150. 

 Engravings. Dec. Le'gum Mom, 6. t.36. ; Maund's Botanic Garden, t. 498. 



Spec. Char., AV. Leaves some trifoliolate, some simple, few sessile ; leaflets 

 linear, almost glabrous. Branches rigid, round, becoming striated and 

 spiny. Flowers in spikes, alternate, yellow. Calyx somewhat pubescent. 

 {Dec. Prod., ii. p. 147.) A shrub, not exceeding 2 ft. in height, in its native 

 habitat, the coast of Sardinia, but attaining double that height in British 

 gardens. It is glabrous, and resembles in appearance Ephedra distachya. 

 There are plants of this species in the Birmingham Botanic Garden. 



as 10. G. triaca'nthos Brot. The three-spined Genista. 



Identification. Brot. Phyt, 130. t.54; Fl. Lusit., 2. p. 89.; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 147.; Don's Mill. 



-\ p. 150. 

 Synonyme. G. rostriita Poir. Suppl., 2. p. 719. 

 Engraving. Brot. Phyt., t. 54. 



Spec. Char., Sec. Leaves sessile, trifoliolate and simple, glabrous. Leaflets 

 linear-lanceolate. Branchlets spiny, branched. Flowers in terminal ra- 

 cemes, few in a raceme. Calyx, corolla, and legume glabrous ; legume 1- 

 seeded. The spines are simple, trifid, or branched. (Dec. Prod., ii. p. 147.) 

 A native of Portugal, on mountains, and in woods. Introduced in 1821 and 

 flowering from May to July. Height from 2 ft. to 3 ft. 



Variety. 



& G. t. 2 interrupta Dec; 5partium interruptum Cav. Annul., 1801, 

 vol. iv. p. 58. ; has linear leaflets, and branches usually simple, and 

 shorter than those of the species. It is found wild about Tangier. 



& 11. G. ho'rrida Dec. The horrid Genista. 



Identification. Dec. Fl. Fr., 4. p. 500. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 146. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 149. 



Synonymes. Spartium horridum Vahl Symb., 1. p. 51., exclusive of the synonyme ; G. erinacea 



Gitib. Bot. Prat, 2. p. 239. 

 Engraving. Gilib. Bot. Prat., 2. p. 239. icon. 



Spec Char., 8$c. Branches grouped, angled, spiny, opposite. Leaves trifoliolate, opposite; the 

 leaflets linear, folded, somewhat silky. Flowers few, almost terminal. Calyx pubescent. (Dec. 

 Prod., ii. p. 140.) A native of the Pyrenees, introduced in 1821, growing to the height of 4 ft., 

 and flowering from May to July. 



& 12. G. sylve'stris Scop. The wood Genista. 



Identification. Scop. Cam., No. 875. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 148. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 151. 



Synonyme. G. hispanica Jacq. Icon, liar., t. 557. 



Engraving. Jacq. Icon. Rar., t. 557. 



Spec. Char., $c. Leaves simple, linear-awl-shaped, glabrous above, villose in a closely pressed man. 

 ner beneath. Spines axillary, branched, slender. Flowers glabrous, disposed in a terminal 

 spiked raceme. Teeth of the calyx almost spiny. The keel longer than the standard and wings 

 (Dec. Prod., ii. p. 148.) A native of Carniola and Croatia, on hills. Introduced in 1818; flowering 

 in June and July, and growing to the height of 2 ft. 



Hi 13. G. Sco'rpius Dec. The Scorpion Genista. 



/ lentificatwn. Dec. Fl. Fr.. 4. p. 498. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 148. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 151. 



Synonymts. Spartium ,S'c6rpius Lin. Sp., 995. ; G. spiniflbra Lam. Diet., 2. p. 621. ; <,Scorpion Furze 



Gerard. 

 Engraving. CI us. Hist., 1. p. 106. 



Spec. Char., SfC. Spiny; spines branched, spreading, striated, glabrous. 

 Leaves simple, very few, oblong, somewhat silky. Flowers glabrous, upon 

 short pedicels, in groups disposed somewhat racemosely ; the keel as long 

 as the standard. Legume containing 2 — 4 seeds. (Dec. Prod., ii. p. 148.) 

 A native of the south of Europe and in Barbary, in arid places, producing 

 its yellow flowers from March to April. It was cultivated by Parkinson in 

 I '■,,(), and forms a spiny shrub, almost leafless, when the shoots are full 

 grown. This species is commonly thought to be the tfcorpius of Theo- 

 phraatus. Parkinson says it is so covered by thorns as to be quite inac- 

 CC riblej from which it would appear to be a desirable plant for low hedges 

 in suitable situation*. In British gardens, it is occasionally met with as a 

 I urioiu shrub, and in conservatories in old collections. 



