Sclerothamnus
(from skleros, hard, and thamnos, a shrub; alluding to the rigid aspect of the bush). ORD. Leguminosae. A monotypic genus, now included, by Bentham, under Eutaxia. The species is a very ornamental, glabrous, divaricate or diffuse, green-house, evergreen shrub. For culture, see Chorizema. S. microphyllus (small-leaved). fl. yellow, small, on axillary pedicels; calyx having acute or acuminate lobes; standard 1/4in. or more long; petals shorter, the keel deeply coloured. May. l. usually elliptic-oblong or linear, one to three lines long, rigid, concave, obtuse or almost acute. Branches rigid, sometimes short and ending in slender spines, sometimes elongated, sleuder, and erect. Australia, 1803. The proper name of this shrub is Eutaxia empetrifolia.