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P L A T E XV.
ANTHYLLIS ERINACEA.
Blue Broo?n of Spain.
C L A S S XVII. ORDER HI.
DIADELPHIJ DECJNDRIJ. Chives in two fets. Ten Chives.
G E N E R I C CHARACTER.
CALYX. Perlanthium mouophyUam, ovatooblongum,
parura inflatum, villofum ; ore
qulnquedentato, insequali ; perfiilens.
COROLL A papilionacea :
Vexillum longins, lateribus reflexis, ungue
longitudine calycis.
Alee daae, oblongs, vexillo breviores.
Carina compreffa, longitudine alarum, alis
fimilis.
STAMINA. Filamenta decern, connata, affurgentia.
Antheree fimplices,
PisTiLLUM. Gernaen oblongum. Stylus fimplex,
adfcendens. Stigma obtufum.
P E R I C A K P I U M . Legumen fubrotundum, teftum
intra calycem, minimum, bivalve.
SEMEN unum, alterumve.
EMPALEMENT. Cup of one leaf, oblong eggfliaped,
a little fvvelled, and hairy ; moulh
cut into five unequal teeth ; permanent.
BLOSSOM, butterfly-llraped.
Standard longer, fides bent back, the claws
as long as the cut.
Wings two, oblong, fliorter than the
ftandard.
Keel compreffed, as long as the wings, and
like them.
CHIVES. Ten threads, connefted, rifing upwards.
Tips fimple.
P O I N T A L . Seed-bud oblong. Shaft fimple,
afcending. Summit blunt.
SEED-VESSEL. Pod roundifli, covered by the
cup, very fmall, of two valves.
SEEDS. One or two.
S P E C I F I C CHAKACTEK.
AntJiyllis fruticofa, fpinofa; fohis fimplicibus ;
floribus ex cseruleo purpurafcentibus.
Broom, ihrubby, and covered with prickles;
leaves fimple; bloflbms of a purplifli blue.
R E F E R E N C E TO THE PLATE.
1. TlieCup.
2. A Bloflbra, the cup taken off to ihew the exad fituation and fliape of its various parts.
3. The Chives, as they inclofe the pointal (natural fize.)
4. The Threads magnified, and cut open, to lliew their tubular Ihape.
5. The Pointal, magnified.
O W I N G to the difficulty in propagating and preferving fome plants, although frequently introduced
to us, and well known; yet are they more fcarce to be found, in our beft colleaions, than plants of
feemi'ngly more difficult acquifition. This fpecies of Anthyllis has been mentioned under various
fynonyms by moft botanical authors from Clufius downwards. Mr. T. Johnfon, in his edition of
Gerard of l633, has given a defcription of this plant from Clufius, and a cut; both of which are
excellent (confidering the then infant ftate of the art of engraving), under the title of Genifta
fpinofa humilis; Dwarf Furze. It is termed Erinacea by Clufius (fays he), from the Spanifli name
of the hedge-hog, Erizo, of which country it is a native, in the kingdom of Valencia : from which
we might infer, °that, like other plants of that country, it would live through our winters; which is
not the cafe. It mufl; be kept as a greenhoufe plant, and watered but fparingly. The foil it prefers
is a light loam; is propagated by cuttings, and flowers in April, or May.
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