Cytisus multiflorus

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

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]

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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  6. "What are invasive species and why are they a problem?". Calif. Invasive Species Program. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
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