Cytisus multiflorus

Cytisus multiflorus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Cytisus
Species: C. multiflorus
Binomial name
Cytisus multiflorus
Synonyms[1]

Cytisus multiflorus is a species of legume known by the common names white broom[2] and white spanishbroom.[3]

Distribution

It is native to the Iberian Peninsula. It is better known as an introduced species on other continents, including Australia and North America, where it has become a weed in agricultural land and an invasive species in natural habitats.

Description

Cytisus multiflorus is a shrub growing up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) or 4 metres (13 ft) in sprawling height, with a broomlike array of many five-angled flexible branches. Leaves appear mainly on lower branches, each made up of three leaflets. Some leaves grow on the upper branches; these are generally made up of a single leaflet. Each leaflet is under a centimeter long and may be linear to oblong in shape and coated in soft silvery hairs.

The white, pea-like flower is up to a centimeter long and is often marked with a dark pinkish streak near the base. The fruit is a hairy legume pod up to 3 centimetres (1.2 in) long. The pods turn black with age and dehisce explosively to release their four to six seeds away from the parent plant.

Invasive species

This plant is a serious noxious weed of agricultural fields and a colonizing invasive plant in wild lands in parts of Australia and California,[4] where it was first introduced as an ornamental shrub for its prolific white flowers. It is still sometimes grown and sold for landscaping purposes despite its status as a pest plant, with new industry and public education programs resulting.[5][6]

References

  1. ↑ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "Cytisus multiflorues". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  4. ↑ Jepson
  5. ↑ "Weeds in Australia" (PDF). Australian Weed Management. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  6. ↑ "What are invasive species and why are they a problem?". Calif. Invasive Species Program. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  • Jepson Manual Treatment – Cytisus multiflorus (introduced species)
  • "Cytisus multiflorus". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  • Cal-IPC: California Invasive Plant Council – homepage
  • Cytisus multiflorus – Photo gallery
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