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SPARTIUM scoparium.
Common Broom.
DIADELPHIA Decandria.
Gen. Char. Stigma longitudinal, downy above. F i«
laments all united, adhering to the germen. Calyx
extended downward.
Spec. Char. Leaves ternate or solitary. Branches
angular, without thorns.
Svn. Spartium scoparium. Linn. Sp. P l. 996. Sm.
FI. Brit. 753. Huds. 310. With. 623. Hull. 158.
Relh. 275. Sibth. 218. Abbot. 153. Curt. Lond.
fa sc. 5 . t. 52. Woodv. Med. Bot. t. 89.
Genista angulosa trifolia. Rail Syn. 474.
T h i s handsome shrub grows abundantly on dry gravelly
hills, to the ornament of which it greatly contributes, both by
its copious evergreen twigs in winter, and still more by its
golden blossoms in the months of May and June. In fertile
loamy soil it reaches the height of 10 or 12 feet, but is generally
of more humble growth. That which grows in Scotland
seems to be a permanently large variety.
The strong and tough stem bears numerous, long, straight,
angular, smooth, evergreen branches. The leaves are deciduous,
on footstalks, ternate, often simple on the upper part of the
same branch; the leaflets uniform, entire, smooth. Flowers
generally solitary, axillary, on smooth round stalks, drooping,
large, of a full bright yellow, often orange-coloured externally.
Calyx somewhat campanulate, with 3 gaping toothed lips,
smooth, frequently purple. The stamina are all united, or
truly monadelphous, at the base, Germen downy, with a long
downy contorted style. Pod compressed, brown, a little hairy,
containing several polished flattish seeds.
We have received from South Wales an elegant variety with
pale lemon-coloured flowers, but it is not invariably constant
from seed.
The virtues of the Broom in dropsies are very problematical,
nor is it to be used rashly.