LABURNUM (Lat.. broad-leaved bean-tre foil). Laburnum anaag•oidrs. A small tree, a native of the Alps and other mountains of the south of Europe. much planted in shrubberies and pleasure-grounds on account of its glossy foliage and its large, pendulous racemes of yellow dowers, which are produced in great abundance iu Slay and June. It is often mixed with lilac, and when the latter preponderates the combina tion has a line effect. ender favorable circum stances. laburnum sometimes attains a height of forty feet. It is of rapid growth, yet its wood is hard, fine-grained, and very heavy, of a dark brown or dark-green color, and much Valued for cabinet-work, inlaying, turning, knife-handles, musical instruments, etc. The leaves, bark, etc., and particularly the seeds. are nauseous and poi sonous. containing eytisine, an emetic, purgative, and -narcotic principle, which is also found in many allied plants. Accidents to children from eating laburnum-seeds are not infrequent; but to hares and rabbits laburnum is wholesome food, and they are so fond of it that the safety of other trees in a young plantation may be insured by introducing laburnum-plants in great number, which spring again from the roots when eaten down. A fine variety. Scotch laburnum. ht- some
botanists regarded as a distinct species (Labur num alpinum). is distinguished by broad leaves and darker yellow flowers, which are produced later in the season than those of the common or English laburnum. These species are exten sively planted as ornamental trees on account of their hardiness and beauty. In America they are commonly called golden-chain, or bean-tree. The species formerly Laburnum adami. now re ferred to as Cytisus arlami, with purple flowers, is sometimes met with. It is believed to he a graft hybrid originated in France about 1826.