GENISTRA, BROOM or DYERS-WEED; a genus of the decandria order, belonging to the diadelphia class of plants. There are several species: of which the most remarkable are, the cytiso-genista, or common broom; and the tinctoria, or dyers-weed.—The first is too well known to need description. Its young flowers are sometimes preserved as pickles; and the plant, when burnt, affords a tolerably pure alkaline salt. Dr Mead relates the case of a dropical patient that was cured by taking half a pint of a decoction of green broom tops, with a spoonful of whole white mustard-seed, every morning and evening. The patient had been tapped three times, and tried the usual remedies before. An infusion of the seeds, drank
freely, has been known to produce similar happy effects; but these are by no means to be expected in every instance. Cows, horses, and sheep, refuse the plant.—2. The tinctoria is also a native of Britain. It rises with shrubby stalks three feet high, garnished with spear-shaped leaves placed alternate, and terminated by several spikes of yellow flowers, succeeded by pods. The branches of the plant are used by dyers, for giving a yellow colour; from whence it is called dyers-broom, green-wood, wood-waxen, or dyers-weed. A dram and an half of the powdered seeds operates as a mild purgative. A decoction of the plant is diuretic; and, like the former, has proved serviceable in dropical cases. Horses, cows, goats, and sheep, eat it.