Flora of North America species comparison

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Spartium junceum

Spanish-broom
Habit Shrubs or trees 2–4(–5) m. Stems evergreen, longitudinally striate, flexible, glaucous, sparsely branched distally, becoming woody; pith spongy.
Leaves

early deciduous, blade bright green adaxially, oblong-linear to lanceolate, 1–2 × 0.2–0.5 cm.
Inflorescences

to 46 cm, lax;

bracts deciduous, proximal, small;

bracteoles 2, distal.
Flowers

sweet-scented;

calyx tube broadly ovate, 8–10 mm, irregularly unilabiate or, rarely, bilabiate, lobes distinct almost to base;

banner broadly obovate to rounded, 2–2.5 cm;

wings oblong, slightly shorter than banner, apex obtuse;

keel oblong, apex beaked.
Legumes

dark brown to black, 5–10(–12) × 0.5+ cm, compressed between seeds;

valves twisted to eject seeds.
Seeds

yellow-brown;

without appendage near hilum.
2n

= 48+.

Spartium junceum
Phenology Flowering Mar–Nov.
Habitat Poor, rocky soils, riverbanks, post-burn chaparral, disturbed areas.
Elevation 0–1500 m. (0–4900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR; TX; WA; s Europe; sw Asia; nw Africa [Introduced in North America; introduced also in South America, Pacific Islands (Hawaii), Australia]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Spartium junceum was introduced to California in 1858 as an ornamental; it quickly colonized disturbed habitats in Mediterranean/chaparral climates and can become a fire hazard. All parts of the plant are poisonous. In Europe, flowers have been used to make dye, and fibers are used as cordage. Spartium junceum is considered an invasive plant or noxious weed in the four states in which it occurs.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 11.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Spartium
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 708. (1753)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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