This Cytisus is the most common in this Land, of any the other sorts of tree trefoiles, hauing a blackish coloured barke, the stemme or body whereof is larger then the former, both for height and spreading, bearing also three leaues together, but smaller and greener then the former: the flowers are smaller, but of the same fashion and colour: the cods blackish and thin, and not very long, or great, but lesser then Broome cods, wherein there lyeth small blackish hard seede: the roote is diuersly dispersed in the ground.
The Place.
The first groweth in the kingdome of Naples, and no doubt in many other places of Italie, as Matthiolus saith. The other groweth in diuers places of France.
The Time.
They flower for the most part in May or Iune: the seede is ripe in August or September.
The Names.
The first (as I said) is thought of most to be the true Cytisus of Dioscorides, and as is thought, was in these later dayes first found by Bartholomæus Maranta of Naples, who sent it first to Matthiolus, and thereupon hath euer since beene called after his name, Cytisus Maranthæ. Some doe call it Cytisus Lunatus, because the cods are made somewhat like vnto an halfe Moone. We call it in English, Horned Tree Trefoile. The other is called Cytisus vulgaris or vulgatior; in English, The common Tree Trefoile, because we haue not any other so common.
The Vertues.
The chiefest vertues that are appropriate to these plants, are to procure milke in womens breasts, to fatten pullen, sheep &c. and to be good for bees.