Montpellier Broom

Genista monspessulana

Alternative Name(s): Cape Broom, Canary Broom, French Broom.

Family: Fabaceae.

Form: Shrub

Origin: Native to the Mediterranean region, Portugal and the Azores.

Flowers/Seedhead: Flowers: Surrounded by hairy calyx. Flowers late winter & spring, sometimes in late summer & autumn.

Description: Shrub to 3 m high. Stems green and covered with short soft hairs, becoming hairless with age. Leaves shortly stalked, consisting of 3 leaflets with rounded ends (often with a short point), upper surface virtually hairless, lower surface varying from scattered to densely appressed hairy with hairs often more common along the midrib. Seeds dark brown to black, usually 5–8 seeds per pod.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by ridged (but not 5 sided) green stems; flowers pea-like, yellow, 0.8–1.3 cm long; stamens 10 in a single tube; mature pods densely hairy, 1.5–2.5 cm long, 3–5 mm wide.

Dispersal: Most spread is by movement of seed in mud attached to vehicles, animals and footwear.

Confused With: Broom, Cytisus scoparius, but that species has larger flowers, 1.5–2.5 cm long, and pods only hairv along margins OR other Genista species, see taxonomic texts for detailed distinguishing features.