Order IV. 
DIADELPHIA DECANDRTA. 
611 
10131 Leaflets obovate and calyxes smooth. Pod varicose 
10132 Leaflets obovate cuneate and calyxes doWny, Pod smooth 
10133 The only species 
10134 Leaves linear hairy beneath. Pods smooth 
10135 Leaves long linear ; beneath veiny, Pods downy 
10136 Branches twiggy, Leaves lane, mucronate downy beneath, Fl. axill. twin 
10137 Leaves elliptic oblong 
10138 Leaves lane, somewhat rhomboid blunt at end mucronate, Peduncles axillary many-flowered 
10139 Branches opposite round flowering at end. Leaves lanceolate 
10140 Branches round striated. Racemes lateral few-fl. Flowers subaggregate, JLieaves lanceolate silky 
10141 Branches round striated. Racemes lateral many-fl. Flowers remote. Leaves lane, sessile a little hairy 
10142 Branches round striated, Fl. solitary axillary. Pods villous, Leaves lanceolate hairy 
10143 Branches round striated very close, Fl. terminal racemose, Vexillum smooth. Leaves lane, silky 
10144 Branches round striated, Fl. axill. solitary subracemose, Standard and keel downy, Lvs. obi. lane, silkj 
10145 Branches round striated, Fl. axillary solitary. Leaves lane, silky srbffessile 
10146 Branches round striated, Fl. term, capitate. Leaves lin. lane, silky 
10147 Branches round striated spreading spiny, Pedunc. axill. many-fl. Leaves obi. acute silky 
10148 Leaves lane, silky beneath. Corolla silky. Branches erect round 
10149 Leaves ternate and simple silky, Twigs straight striated flowering on all sides 
10150 Leaves solitary and ternate linear lanceolate hoary, Branches hexangular flowering at the ends 
10151 Leaves ternate stalked obovate. Branches round striated. Lateral flowers twin nodding 
10152 Branches angular. Leaves simple lanceolate silky beneath, Fl. racemose. Pods hairy 
10153 Branches round with ten furrows. Flowers axillary solitary downy 
10154 Leaves ternate lane, hairy stalked, Fl. lateral fascicled, Pods smooth. Branches round striated 
10155 Leaves ternate sessile linear silky beneath, Raceme terminal. Branches round furrowed 
10156 Leaves ternate and solitary oblong, Fl. axillary. Pods hairy at edge. Branches angular 
10157 liCaves ternate linear, Petioles dilated persistent. Racemes capitate term. Branches angul. opp. clustered 
10158 Leaves ternate and simple oblong mucronate. Raceme terminal. Branches striated round spiny 
10159 Leaves ternate obovate. Peduncles axillary, Cal. and pods smooth. Branches angular spiny 
10160 Leaves tern. obi. downy beneath with spreading hairs, Pedunc. many-fl. terminal, Branches angular 
10161 Leaves ternate obovate downy with closely pressed hairs, Pedunc. many-fl. terminal. Branches angular 
10162 Leaves ternate obi. smooth, Racemes terminal, Cal. and pods glandular viscid, Branches round striated 
10163 Leaves ternate : upper simple. Branches triquetrous procumbent 
10164 Branches 2-edged membranous jointed, Leaves ovate lanceolate 
10165 Leaves lanceolate mucronate smooth. Branches 3-cornered ascending. Pods smooth 
10166 Leaves lanceolate smooth. Branches round striated erect, Pods smooth 
10167 Leaves lanceolate smooth, Branches equal round erect 
10168 Leaves oblong ovate and pods hairy. Branches round striated ■ 
10169 Quite smooth. Leaves not ciliated, Cor. 5 lines long, Calyx smooth 
and Miscellaneous Particulars. 
S. scoparium, though m some places a troublesome weed in old pastures, is a very ornamental shrub in garden 
scenery : it is also useful in agriculture, domestic economy, and medicine. It is sometimes used as winter 
food for sheep, frequently for thatching cottages and ricks, and as litter. Bees are fond of the flowers : the 
flower-buds, just before they become yellow, are pickled in the manner of capers : the branches are said to be 
capable of tanning leather, and of being manufactured into coarse cloth ; when tender, they are mixed with 
hops in brewing : the old wood furnishes the cabinet-maker with a beautiful material for veneering. The 
twigs, when bruised, smell disagreeably, which perhaps may be one reason why our broom is generally 
rejected by cattle {Curtis) ; but they have also a nauseous bitter taste. The plant when burnt atFords a 
tolerably pure alkaline salt. Broom tops are diuretic and cathartic ; the seeds are said to be emetic. The 
effects of this plant have been very long known to the common people; and both Mead and Cullen found 
them useful in dropsy. The usual mode of exhibiting them is in the form of decoction, made by boil- 
ing the green tops in water. Speaking of this decoction, of which two table spoonfuls were given every 
hour till it operated by stool, Cullen says, " it seldom fails to operate botJi by stool and urine, and by re- 
peated exhibition every day, or every second day, some dropsies have been cured. (Thompson's London Dis- 
pensaiori/,514:.) v 
1338. Genista. Gen, signifies, in Celtic, a small bush, whence also Gt^net, French. The species are shrubs 
or undershrubs, some of them evergreen, and many with numerous flexible rush-like green twigs like the 
brooms. They are of easy culture and free flowerers. G. tinctoria is common in most parts of Europe, in 
unimproved pastures on dry gravelly soils. When cows feed on it, their milk, and the butter or cheese made 
from it, are said to be very bitter. A bright yellow color may be prepared from the flowers; and for 
■wool that is to be dyed green with woad, the dyers prefer it to all others. A dram and a half of the 
powdered seeds operates as a mild purgative. A decoction of the plant is sometimes diuretic, and therefore 
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