SPARTIUM JUNCEUM

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE

Common Names:- Spanish broom

Homotypic Synonyms:- Cytisus junceus, Genista juncea

Meaning:- Spartium (L) Binding or broom.

Junceum (L) Rush-like.

General description:- Erect, much-branched shrub.

Stems:-

1) 1-3 m tall. branches and twigs slender, terete, grooved, green.

Leaves:-

1) 10-30 x 2-5 mm, sparse, oblong-linear to lanceolate, glabrous above, appressed-

sericeous beneath, subsessile, caducous.

Flowers:-

1) Large and showy, sweet-scented, in lax terminal racemes.

2) Calyx, short, ± cupuliform.

3) Corolla, 20-30 mm, bright yellow, keel beaked.

4) Stamens, monadelphous.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, 5-8 cm, linear-oblong, compressed, glabrescent.

2) Seeds, 12-20.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- A native constituent of scrubland vegetation, generally at 0-800 m.

Frequently planted along roads and spreading into natural vegetation.

Distribution:- Widespread throughout the Mediterranean region. Widespread on

Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr to early July.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton