Caragana pygmaea (L.) DC.

A deciduous shrub 3 to 4 ft high, similar in habit to C. aurantiaca, having long, slender, pendulous, or even prostrate branches. Leaves nearly stalkless, composed of four leaflets, each of which is 1⁄2 in. long, broadest near the apex, where it is about 1⁄8 in. wide, tapering thence towards the base; the apex has a short, wedge-shaped point. Flowers yellow, 1 in. long, produced in May and June at the joints of the previous season’s shoots, each on its own stalk 1⁄3 in. long, and one flower from each joint; calyx 1⁄3 in. long, bell-shaped, triangular-toothed, edged with minute hairs; pod 3⁄4 to 11⁄4 in. long, glabrous.

In a wild state this species extends over the region between the Caucasus and Siberia and Tibet; in cultivation in 1751. It is a very pretty plant when in flower, the blossoms being pendulous on their short stalks from the lower side of the branchlets. It is often grafted on standards of C. arborescens, but can quite well be struck from cuttings made of half-woody young twigs in July and placed in gentle heat. By growing it on its own roots, the ugly and often diseased union seen on grafted plants is avoided. It is nearly allied to C. aurantiaca, under which the differences are pointed out. Its slender, flexible shoots are used for tying in Siberia, and are said to be equal to osiers for that purpose.