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French broom

Canary broom, Canary Island broom

Habit Shrubs 1.5–3 m. Shrubs (1–)2–4 m.
Stems

sericeous, hairs silvery.

sericeous, hairs yellow-brown.

Leaves

petiolate;

stipules deciduous, 0.5–2 mm;

petiole 1–5 mm;

leaflets 3, blades oblanceolate to obovate, 10–15 mm, base cuneate, margins ciliolate, apex obtuse and mucronate, surfaces sericeous abaxially, glabrous adaxially.

petiolate;

stipules 0.5–2 mm;

petiole 2–6 mm;

leaflets 3, blades obovate or rounded, 5–10 mm, base tapering to cuneate, apex rounded to mucronate, surfaces densely sericeous abaxially, sparsely pilose to pannose adaxially.

Inflorescences

4–10-flowered, axillary, clustered on short shoots, dense, 15–60 mm;

bracts caducous, narrowly linear, 2–3 mm.

5–20-flowered, terminal or axillary, racemes, 10–60 mm;

bracts 3–4 mm.

Pedicels

1–3 mm.

1–2.5 mm.

Flowers

calyx 5–7 mm, sericeous;

banner ovate, 10–15 mm, glabrous;

wings and keel slightly shorter than banner, wings glabrous, keel tomentose abaxially and distally.

calyx 4–6 mm, densely floccose;

banner ovate, 10–12 mm, ± V-shaped patch of pubescence from base to apex;

wings and keel longer than banner, wings glabrous, keel pubescent abaxially.

Legumes

oblong, 15–25 mm, densely sericeous.

narrowly oblong, 15–30 mm, puberulent.

Seeds

(3–)5–7(–10), tan to dark brown, ovoid, 1–1.3 mm;

hilum greenish yellow.

5–8, dark brown, rhombic-ovoid, 2–2.5 mm.

2n

= 44, 46, 48.

= 48.

Genista monspessulana

Genista canariensis

Phenology Flowering Feb–Aug. Flowering Feb–Apr.
Habitat Grasslands, oak woodlands, coastal scrub, chaparral, conifer and mixed evergreen forests, mostly in disturbed areas. Disturbed areas.
Elevation 0–900 m. [0–3000 ft.] 0–1000 m. [0–3300 ft.]
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR; BC; s Europe; w Asia; n Africa; Atlantic Islands (Azores, Canary Islands) [Introduced in North America; introduced also in South America (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay)]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; WA; Europe; Atlantic Islands (Canary Islands) [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

The flowers and possibly other parts of Genista monspessulana have been reported as toxic. The species apparently hybridizes with G. canariensis and G. stenopetala Webb & Berthelot. Genista stenopetala was previously reported from California; it now appears that the only known specimens of the species were cultivated and that many specimens previously annotated to this name were hybrids with G. monspessulana. The hybrid is found in Oregon.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Genista canariensis is known from Alameda, Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties in California, and Klickitat County in Washington.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 11. FNA vol. 11. Treatment author: Debra K. Trock.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Genista Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Genista
Sibling taxa
G. canariensis, G. linifolia, G. maderensis, G. tinctoria
G. linifolia, G. maderensis, G. monspessulana, G. tinctoria
Synonyms Cytisus monspessulanus, Teline monspessulana Cytisus canariensis, Teline canariensis
Name authority (Linnaeus) L. A. S. Johnson: Contr. New South Wales Natl. Herb. 3: 98. (1962) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 709. (1753) — (as canariensi)
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