GENISTA ACANTHOCLADA

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE/Sect. ACANTHOSPARTUM

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Cytisanthus acanthocladus, Genista acanthoclada,

Genista acanthoclada subsp. graeca, Genista brugnieri, Spartium

acanthocladum, Telinaria acanthoclada.

Meaning:- Genista. Possibly derived from the Celtic, "gen", for a small bush.

Acantho- (L) Thorny-, spiny-.

Clada (Gr) Shoot, branch = Thorny-branch.

General description:- Dense, rigid, much-branched shrub.

Stems:-

1) 40-100 cm tall.

2) Branches, terete, sulcate; twigs transformed into sharp, straight spines.

Leaves:-

1) Small, subsessile, 3-foliolate.

2) Leaflets, linear, appressed-pubescent.

3) Petiole, pulvinate at the base.

Flowers:-

1) Solitary, short-pedicellate in the axils of leaf-like or simple bracts.

2) Calyx, c. 3 mm, campanulate, 2-lipped, puberulent,

a) lips, almost as long as the tube.

3) Corolla, 8-10 mm, bright yellow,

a) standard, somewhat shorter than the keel, both sericeous.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, ovoid, acuminate, appressed-pubescent, sericeous, 1-seeded.

Key features:-

1) Branches, opposite.

2) Leaves, 3-foliolate.

3) Petiole, pulvinate at the base.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- An important constituent of open dry shrubby vegetation, scrubland

vegetation and as under-growth of open coniferous woodland. 0-1200 m.

Distribution:- Common in S & E Greece. Also in W & S Anatolia and Cyenenaica.

Widespread and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-June

Photos by:- Dr. Armin Jagel