M
an object a t once singular, picturesque, and beautiful, whether when covered
with blossoms, or with its fine reddish pods.
G e n u s XVI.
C O LU 'T EA R . R r . T h e C o l u t e a , or R ladd eb Se n n a . Lin. Syst.
Diadélpliia Decándria.
Identification. R . Br. in Ho rt. Kew., ed. 2., vol. 4. p. 325. ; Dec. P rod., 2. p. 270. ; D o n ’s Mill., 2,
s jn o nw n e s . Baguenaudier, Fr. ; Senna falsa, Ita t. ; Bla senbaum, Ger.
TU____ T-- J “ rriL.., 'erivuiion F rom kotoiw, to amputate. T h e shruhs ra.-r.re. „s ac Ìi Ad ^t orx Adliee. iiff th e branches are lopped off. Koloutea i.s a.lso. th e name o f. a p lan t mentioned by Theoph. rast.u s..
Gen. Char. Calyx 5-toothed. Vexillum flat, bicallose, larger than the keel,
which is obtuse. Stamens diadelphous. Stigma lateral, hooked under the
top of the style. Style bearded lorigitiidinally behind. Legume stipitate,
ovate, boat-formed, inflated, scarious. (Doris Mill.)
Leaves compound, alternate, stipulate, deciduous; impari-pinnate: stipules
small. Flowers usually yellow, axillary, the racemes sh o rte rth a n theleaves,
and succeeded hy bladdery legumes. —: Shrubs, deciduous ; natives o f the
Middle and South of Europe, the North of Africa, and Nepal.
All the kinds th a t have hitherto been introduced into Eu ro p e are probably
only varieties o f one species. They are readily increased by seeds or cuttings
of the roots on any common soil.
Si 1. C. a r b o r e ' s c e n s Lin. The arborescent Colutea, or Rladder Senna.
Identification. Lin. Sp. 1045. ; De c. A s tr., No. 1. ; Dec. P ro d ., 2. p. 270. ; D o n ’s Mill., 2. p. 245.
Synonyme. C. h irsù ta Roth Fl. Germ. 1. p. 305.
En gravings. N. D u Ham., 1 .1. 22. ; Schmidt Arb., 1 .117. ; Bot. Mag., t. 81. ; an d our fig . 400.
Spec. Char., Leaflets elliptical, retuse. P e duncles
bearing about 6 yellow flowers. Callosities
o f the standard short. Legumes closed. (Dec.
Prod.') A rapid-growing shrub. Middle and South
o f Europe, Italy, and on Mount Vesuvius is found
even on the ascent to the crater, where there are
scarcely any o th e r plants. Height 12 ft. to 14 ft.
Introduced in 1570. Flowers y e llow ; Ju n e to
August. Legume bladder-like, reddish ; ripe in
September.
The bladders, when pressed, explode with a crackling
noise. On the Continent, the leaves have been
recommended &s a substitute for senna, and they are
also said to afford a grateful food for cattle. The
seeds, in doses of a drachm or two, are said to excite
vomiting. In British gardens, th e plant is chiefly
valuable as a bulky fast-growing shrub, o f the easiest
culture, and fit for almost any situation.
40 0 . Colùtea arboréscens.
-afe 2. C. ( a . ) c k u e ' n t a Ait, The bloody-ßowered Colutea, or Oriental Bladder
Senna.
Identification. Ait. Ho rt. Kew., 3. p. 55. ; D e c. Astr., No. 3. ; D o n ’s Mill., 2. p 245.
^ _____ C. orientà lis L am . D?cf. 1. p . 3 5 3 . , 6 2 4 . f. 3., N . D m /íam . 1 .1 .23. ; C. sanguínea
Pall. ; C. áp te ra S chmidt Arb. t. 119. ; C. hùmilis Scop.
¿ravings. L am . III., 624. f. 3 .; N. Du H am., 1 .1. 23. ; Schmidt Arb., t. 119.; K rau se, t. 105. ;
an d o u r fig . 401.
Spec. Char., Sfc. Leaflets obovate, emarginate, glaucous. Peduncles bearing
4—5 flowers. Callosities o f the standard obtuse, very small. Legumes
opening at the tip. Corolla, in colour, between red and saffron-coloured,
with a yellow spot at the base of the standard. (Dec. Prod.) A glaucous
I
i
shrub. Archipelago, Georgia, and the
8 ft. Introd.
1731. blowers reddish copper-coloured ;
Ju n e and July. Legume reddish ; ripe
in August.
Resembles C. arboréscens, but o f smaller
dimensions,and with leaflets more glaucous
and more retuse.
S» 3. C. ( a . ) m e 'd i a Willd. The iiiterme-
diate Colutea, or Bladder Senna.
Identification.yVìWà.'Enum.,
771.; Dteurc.’., ,P rod., 224.p5..270.: D o n ’s Mill., 2. p. ...V,.
Engravings. Wats. Dend.
Brit., t. 140.; and o ur fi<^
402.
40 1 . Colùtea (a.) c ru è n ta .
Spec. Char., dfc. Leaflets
obcordate,glau-
cescent. Peduncles
usually 6-flowered.
Legumes closed at
the apex. Flowers
orange-coloured. —
(Doris Mill.)
Ash ru h ratherlarger than C. ( a . ) cruenta, and differin«
irom It chiefly in having orange-coloured flowers. Per-
liaps, a hybrid between the two preceding sorts.
402. C. (a.) m è d ia .
® 4 C. ( a . ) h a l e ' p i ’ i c a Lam. The Aleppo Colutea, or Rladder Senna.
‘ Dec.
^ F n o n ym e s r 'd it. Ilo 3. p. 55 , Schmidt
bheonis; L ’H e- r i-t1. Stii-p. Nov^^. '2^.^ 't^. Z4i2ic t. No. 2. t. 100. i C. pro^>c-uumm-
„ S" c’h mmiiddtt Arb., t.'l20. ; an d o u t fig . 403.
Spec. Char., 4e. Leaflets roundishly elliptical,
very obtuse, mucronate. Peduncles bearing
3 yel ow flowers. Callosities of the standard
lengthened, ascending. Legumes closed. Smaller
ttoin a arboréscens. (Dec. Prod.) A low
shrub. Fields about Aleppo. Height 3 ft. to
6 ft. InU’oduced in 1752. Flowers yellow;
May to October. Legume reddish ; ripe Oct.
Closely resembling C. arborescens, o f which it
appears to be a variety, but ra th e r more tender
in iJritish gardens.
4 0 3 . C .( a .) h a lép p ic a .
40-1. C. nep alén sis.
m . f i ^■“ ‘’’'d e 'n s is Hook. The Nepal Colutea, or Rladder Senna,
Identfication. Uook Bot. Mag., 2022. ; Don’s Mill., 2. p. 245.
En g ta vm g s. Hook. Bot. Mu.g., t. 2622. ; and o u r fig . 404.
R 3