Genista linifolia is a species of broom known by the common names Mediterranean broom,[1] needle-leaved broom[2] and flax broom. It is native to southwestern Europe, North Africa, and the Canary Islands.

Genista linifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Genista
Species:
G. linifolia
Binomial name
Genista linifolia
Synonyms

Cytisus linifolius
Teline linifolia

Description

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This is a shrub with hairy green stems and branches which can exceed two meters in height. Its leaves are made up of tough, green, lance-shaped leaflets with woolly undersides. Flowers appear in dense raceme inflorescences toward the ends of the branches. The flowers are bright yellow and pealike. The fruit is a hairy legume pod one to four centimeters long containing several seeds.

Invasive plant species

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It can be found on other continents in areas of similar Mediterranean climate, such as California in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. It has become an invasive species in those regions.

References

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  1. ^ NRCS. "Genista linifolia". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  2. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
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