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Laburnum (Old Latin name used by Pliny)

(the old Latin name used by Pliny). ORD. Leguminosae. A genus comprising only three species of hardy, glabrous or puberulous trees or shrubs, natives of Europe and Asia Minor. Flowers yellow, disposed in terminal racemes; calyx shortly toothed; lip ovate or orbiculate. Leaves digitately three-foliolate. The species are readily raised from seed, and the varieties easily propagated by grafting or budding on the common sorts. Laburnums thrive in almost any soil or situation. The genus was formerly included under Cytisus.

L. Adami (Adam's).* fl. dull purplish, disposed in long pendulous racemes. This remarkable graft hybrid is said to have been raised by Jean Louis Adam, in 1825, by shield-grafting Cytisus purpureus on L. vulgare. A most extraordinary thing in connection with it is the complete reversion of some parts of the same tree to one or the other of the parents. SYN. Cytisus Adami. L. alpinum (alpine).* Scotch Laburnum. fl. yellow; racemes pendulous; pedicels and calyces puberulous. June. Pod shorter than that of L. vulgare, smooth, with distinctly-winged upper suture. l. petiolate, glabrous; leaflets ovate-lanceolate, rounded at the base. Branches terete. h. 15ft. to 20ft. Europe, 1596. Hardy tree. SYN. Cytisus alpinus. C. fragrans, C. hirsutum, and C. pendulum (a form with pendent branches), are varieties. L. caramanicum (Caramanian). fl. large, in erect racemes, arranged in panicles. June. l. small, shortly stalked. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Asia Minor, 1879. SYN. Podocytisus caramanicus.

L. vulgare (common).* Common Laburnum; Golden Chain. fl. yellow; racemes pendulous, simple; pedicels and calyces clothed with adpressed pubescence. April to June. Pod clothed with hairs; upper suture thickened and keeled, but not winged. l. petiolate; leaflets ovate-lanceolate, pubescent beneath. Branches terete, whitish. h. 20ft. Southern France to Hungary, 1596. SYN. Cytisus Laburnum (under which name it is figured in B. M. 176). The following are the best varieties of this very beautiful spring-flowering tree: L. v. aureum (golden). An interesting variety, with golden-yellow leaves. L. v. Carlieri (Carlier's). A free-flowering form, with very narrow leaflets and long racemes.

L. v. involutum (curled). A vigorous grower, with the leaflets curled so as to form "rings."

L. v. Parkesii (Parkes'). Racemes very long; flowers deeper-coloured than those of the type. An excellent variety, raised about 1840. L. v. quercifolium (Oak-leaved). Leaflets sinuated and lobed, so as to resemble a miniature Oak-leaf in outline.

L. v. Watereri (Waterer's). For length of raceme, depth of colour, and floriferousness, this is, perhaps, the best of all the varieties.