Fabaceae - Papilionoideae - Genisteae - Genistinae - *Ulex L.
Description:
Shrubs; branchlets very spiny
Leaves usually alternate, 3-foliolate on seedlings, but reduced to scale-like or narrow, usually spine-like phyllodes on mature plants; stipules 0
Flowers yellow, axillary, solitary or in small clusters, sometimes aggregated into racemes or umbel-like inflorescences; bracteoles 2, immediately below the flower
Calyx ± yellow, persistent, divided to base into 2 lips; upper lip 2-toothed, lower lip 3-toothed
Petals: vexillum ovate; wings and keel obtuse
Stamens monadelphous, connate into a closed tube; anthers alternate, shorter and versatile, longer and basifixed
Ovary sessile, many-ovuled; style slightly incurved with terminal, capitate stigma
Pod ovate, oblong or shortly linear, compressed or turgid, continuous, 2-valved
Seeds 1-6, strophiolate
x = 8 (high polyploidy)
Nomenclature:
*Ulex L.
Linnaeus: 741 (1753)
Hutchinson: 352 (1964)
Guinea & Webb: 102 (1968)
Distribution & Notes:
Southern Africa: *Ulex europaeus L., Gorse, occurs as an escape in forest areas of the Drakensberg between 2000-2300 m in KwaZulu-Natal and occasionally in similar areas of the Eastern Cape
References:
GUINEA, E & WEBB. D.A. 1968. Leguminosae. Flora europaea 2
HUTCHINSON, J. 1964. Order LEGUMINALES. The genera of flowering plants 1. Oxford University Press, Oxford
LINNAEUS, C. 1753. Species plantarum, edn 1. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm
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