(Last Modified On 10/1/2013)
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(Last Modified On 10/1/2013)
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Species
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Ulex europaeus L.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Sp. P1. 741. 1753
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Note
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TYPE: Europe, herb. Linnaeus (LINN 915.1, not seen; microfiche MO).
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Description
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Densely branched shrub to 2 m tall, eventually becoming a tree to 7 m tall, with a well defined, bare trunk; twigs conspicuously sulcate, long pilose, the leaves and flowers borne on short shoots (phyllodes) to 5-10 cm long, each ending in a sturdy, sharp, spine, the tip sclerified. Leaves (adult), linear, mostly 5-10 mm long, stiff and sharp pointed, ciliate and sparingly pubescent with short bent hairs, becoming glabrous upwards; stipules wanting. Inflorescences epeduncu- late, solitary flowers in the leaf axils, clustered to form a racemose panicle; pedicels 6-8 mm long, tomentose, subtended by a minute tomentose basal bract, surmounted by a pair of tomentose, deltoid or ovate bracteoles, 2-3 mm wide and 3 mm long. Flowers showy yellow, the calyx yellow, ca. 12 mm long, 2-lobed to the base, cucullate, the lobes minutely denticulate, spreading pilose overall; corolla yellow, ca. 15 mm long, not much exceeding the calyx, the standard 15 mm long, 11 mm wide, retuse, the wings 15 mm long, basally ciliate, oblique with the costa abaxially pubescent, the keel 11 mm long, oblique, uncinate; stamens monadelphous, the filaments fused to a high level, the anthers oblong to linear (within the same flower) 1-2 mm long; style glabrous, somewhat curved near the apex, the stigma a median crest. Legume 12-20 mm long, villous; seeds 3-4, brownish, somewhat trigonous.
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Habit
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shrub
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Note
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This species is native to western Europe where it is planted for fodder and hedges. In Panama it was collected only once, in flower in March 1938. The species is naturalized in upland Costa Rica and many other countries.
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Native
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western Europe
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Common
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Furze Gorse
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Common
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Tojo Hiniesta espinosa
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Specimen
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CHIRIQUf: Cerro Pando, near upper Rio Chiriqui Viejo, White 5 (MO).
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Tag
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Project Name
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Tag
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