112 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
CHAPTER XXXI. 
THE LEGUMINOUS 
Character of the Order. —Calyx five-parted, toothed, or cleft, 
inferior, with the odd segment anterior; the segments often unequal, 
and variously combined. Petals five, or by abortion four, three, two, 
one, or none, inserted into the base of the calyx, either papilionaceous 
or regularly spreading; the odd petal posterior. Stamens definite or 
indefinite, perigynous, either distinct or monadelphous, or diadelphous ; 
very seldom triadelphous ; anthers versatile. Ovarium simple, supe¬ 
rior, one-celled, one or many seeded ; style simple, proceeding from 
the upper margin ; stigma simple. Fruit either a legume or a drupa. 
FAMILY. (Leguminos.e, Juss.) 
Seeds attached to the upper suture, solitary or several; occasionally 
with an arillus; embryo destitute of albumen, either straight or with 
the radicle bent upon the cotyledons; cotyledons either remaining 
under ground in germination, or elevated above the ground and 
becoming green like leaves.—Shrubs, trees, or herbaceous plants. 
Leaves compound, with stipulse at the base of the petiole and of each 
leaflet. Petiole usually tumid at the base. Flowers axillary, either 
solitary, or in racemes or panicles. ( Lindley .) 
Description, &c. —This very extensive order contains so many genera, that it is necessary to make some 
subdivision in order to class them properly; and various subdivisions or sections have been suggested by 
different botanists. In the present work I shall adopt the arrangement of Dr. Lindley ; according to which the 
whole order is divided into three sections, the distinctions between which depend partly upon the pods and 
partly on the cotyledons, or seed-leaves. 
I.—THE LOTUS TRIBE. 
All the plants belonging to this section have papilionaceous flowers ; that is, flowers shaped like those of the 
common Pea. The stamens are either all joined together at the base, or the greater part of them are so joined, 
and only one, or at most two, left distinct. The pod is shaped like that of the common Pea ; but it is sometimes 
divided into two, by a thin membrane in the centre. The cotyledons or seed-leaves rise above ground when the 
seeds germinate and become green, as may be seen in those of the common Lupine. 
GENUS I. 
THE FURZE. (Ulex, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. MONADELPLIIA DECANDRIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx with two bractese, 2-lipped ; the upper Branching spiny shrubs. Flowers solitary, yellow. Pods villous, 
lip with three, the lower with two teeth. Stamens monadelphous. (Lindley.) 
Pod oval-oblong, turgid, scarcely longer than the calyx, few-seeded. 
Description, &c. —It was formerly supposed that there were only two species of this genus natives of 
Britain ; but latterly a third has been added, which is only found in Ireland. The genus is placed in the 
Linnaean class Monadelphia, on account of its stamens being united at the base ; and in the order Decandria, 
from their number being ten. The name of Ulex is derived from a Celtic word signifying a sharp point, in 
allusion to the spiny nature of the plant. 
1.—THE COMMON FURZE, WHIN, OR GOItSE. (Ulex europjeus, Lin .) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 742 ; 2nd ed., t. 990 ; and owe fig. Spines many-flowered, much recurved, and spreading. Young leaves 
1, in PL 26. rigid, furrowed, recurved. (Lindley.) 
Specific Character. —Calyx shaggy, with two ovate lax bracts. 
Description, &c. —The common Furze is abundant in every part of Great Britain, particularly where the 
soil is sandy or gravelly. The flowers appear in early spring, but are generally in perfection about May. The 
