Common name: Scotch Broom, Broom, English Broom
Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link APNI* Description: Erect, ascending or procumbent shrub to 2.5 m high, branches 5-ribbed, glabrescent.
Leaves 3-foliolate and petiolate or 1-foliolate and ± sessile, or absent; leaflets narrow-elliptic to obovate, 5–20 mm long, 1.5–8 mm wide, lower surface pubescent; stipules inconspicuous.
Flowers axillary, solitary or in pairs; pedicels c. 5–8 mm long. Calyx c. 6 mm long, 2-lipped to near middle, persistent in fruit. Corolla yellow, mostly 16–20 mm long.
Pod linear-oblong, 25–60 mm long, flattened, ciliate; seeds 2–15, ± elliptic, c. 3 mm long, flattened, green-yellow, aril yellowish.
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Naturalized in cooler regions, south from Glen Innes district. An invasive weed in woodland and very difficult to eradicate (as in the Barrington Tops N.P.). Native of Eur.
NSW subdivisions: *CC, *NT, *CT, *ST, *CWS
Other Australian states: *Vic. *Tas. *S.A.
Text by C. Gardner
Taxon concept:
| N.S.W. occurrences are: subsp. scoparius |
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
|
