Genista monspessulana

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox | image = French Broom2.jpg | image_caption = French broom | genus = Genista | species = monspessulana | authority = (L.) L.A.S.Johnson 1962 | synonyms = {{hidden begin}} * ''Avornela candicans'' (L.) Raf. 1838 * ''Cytisus candicans'' (L.) DC. 1805 * ''Cytisus candicans'' (L.) Lam.1786 * ''Cytisus candicans'' var. ''colmeiroi'' Willk. 1847 * ''Cytisus candicans'' var. ''colmeiroi'' (Kunze) Ceballos & C.Vicioso 1933 * ''Cytisus candicans'' var. ''kunzeanus'' (Willk.) Pérez Lara 1892 * ''Cytisus canescens'' Janka 1884 * ''Cytisus kunzeanus'' Willk. 1877 * ''Cytisus monspessulanus'' L. 1753 * ''Cytisus monspessulanus'' var. ''kunzeanus'' (Willk.) Briq. 1894 * ''Cytisus monspessulanus'' var. ''syriacus'' (Boiss. & Blanche) Briq. 1894 * ''Cytisus pubescens'' Moench 1802 * ''Cytisus syriacus'' Boiss. & C.I.Blanche 1872 * ''Cytisus syriacus'' (Boiss. & C.I.Blanche) Boiss. 1872 * ''Genista candicans'' L. 1755 * ''Genista candicans'' var. ''colmeiroi'' colmeiroi (Wilk.) Rouy 1897 * ''Genista candicans'' var. ''eriocarpa'' (Kunze) Pau 1922 * ''Genista ephedroides'' ''sensu'' H.J.Coste 1901 * ''Genista eriocarpa'' Kunze 1846 * ''Genista monspessulana'' (L.) O.Bolós & Vigo 1974, nom. illeg. * ''Genista monspessulana'' var. ''colmeiroi'' (Willk.) Briq. 1894 * ''Genista monspessulana'' var. ''colmeiroi'' (Willk.) O.Bolòs & Vigo 1974, nom. illeg. * ''Genista syriaca'' Boiss. & C.I.Blanche 1856 * ''Telinaria candicans'' (L.) C.Presl 1845 * ''Teline candicans'' (L.) Medik. 1789 * ''Teline eriocarpa'' (Kunze) K.Koch 1853 * ''Teline medicaginoides'' Medik. 1786 * ''Teline monspessulana'' (L.) K.Koch 1869 * ''Teline monospessulana'' [''sic''] (L.) K.Koch 1869 {{hidden end}} }}

'''''Genista monspessulana''''', commonly known as '''French broom''', '''Montpellier broom''',<ref name=BSBI07>{{BSBI 2007 |accessdate=2014-10-17 }}</ref> or '''Cape broom''' (Australia), is a woody leguminous perennial shrub. The yellow-flowering bush is native to the Mediterranean region, and while it may still be commonly sold in some garden stores, it is considered an invasive plant in most places where it has been introduced.<ref>Integrated Taxonomic Information System. [https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=502738 ''Genista monspessulana''], webpage for taxonomic serial number 502738 retrieved May 19, 2007.</ref> It is a noxious weed on the western coast of the US and in parts of Australia.

==Description==

''G. monspessulana'' grows to {{convert|1-2.5|m|ft|abbr=off|frac=2}} tall, with slender green branches. Stems generally ridged or angled and green when young.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=The Jepson Manual, Vascular Plants of California |publisher=University of California Press |year=2012 |isbn=9780520253124 |editor-last=Baldwin |editor-first=B.G. |edition=2nd |location=Berkeley, California |publication-date=2012 |pages=754 |language=English |editor-last2=Goldman |editor-first2=D.H.}}</ref> The leaves are evergreen, trifoliate with three narrow obovate leaflets, {{convert|1|–|2|cm|abbr=off|frac=4}} long. The flowers are yellow, grouped 3–9 together in short racemes. Like other legumes, it develops its seeds within a pod. The pods are {{Convert|2–3|cm|abbr=on|frac=4}} long, tough and hard, covered all over with hairs,<ref name=":0" /> and are transported easily by flowing water and animals. They burst open with force, dispersing the seeds several metres. The plant begins seed production once it reaches a height of approximately {{convert|40|cm|abbr=on}}, and each plant can live for 10–20 years. One mature plant can produce 10,000 seeds per season. The generous seed production and the plant's ability to re-sprout after cutting or burning help it to invade new habitat vigorously when introduced.<ref name="Bossard">{{cite book|author=Bossard, Carla|year=2000|title="''Genista Monspessulana''," in ''Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands''|editor=Carla C. Bossard|editor2=John M. Randall|editor3=Marc C. Hoshovsky|publisher=University of California|place=Berkeley|isbn=978-0-520-22546-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/invasiveplantsof00carl}}</ref><ref name="ANR">{{cite journal|author=D'Antonio, Carla|year=2007|url=http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=52&surveynumber=182|title=''Genista monspessulana''|journal=Agriculture and Natural Resources|publisher= University of California|accessdate=May 19, 2007}}</ref><ref name="Hoshovsky">{{cite web |author=Hoshovsky, Marc |year=1986 |url=http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/documnts/cytisco.pdf |title=Element Stewardship Abstract for ''Cytisus scoparius'' and ''Genista monspessulanus'' |publisher=The Nature Conservancy |place=Arlington |accessdate=May 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061126052334/http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/documnts/cytisco.pdf |archivedate=November 26, 2006 }}</ref>

It is related to the common broom and Spanish broom.

{{gallery|mode=packed |Teline monspessulana.jpg|Seedpods |French broom immature seed pod.png|Immature seedpods at the start of April }}

==Distribution and habitat== ''G. monspessulana'' and related plants are common in European shrublands. French broom was originally distributed throughout Mediterranean Europe and northwest Africa, the Azores, and the Canary Islands.<ref name="Hoshovsky" /> Due to its lower tolerance for frost than other broom species, it is common in warmer, lower elevation areas. It is found on coastal strips and in sunny inland areas, and does best with plentiful rainfall and sandy soils.

==Ecology== When introduced to a new area, French broom can become an invasive plant. Its reproductive vigour and preference for Mediterranean climates make it a very successful species in California and the Pacific Northwest, where it is considered a severe noxious weed, covering over 40 kilohectares.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://portal.cal-ipc.org/files/PAFs/Genista%20monspessulana.pdf |title=Genista monspessulana |publisher=California Invasive Plant Council |accessdate=May 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070802120534/http://portal.cal-ipc.org/files/PAFs/Genista%20monspessulana.pdf |archivedate=August 2, 2007 }}</ref> It is even more widespread in Australia, where it covers 600 kilohectares and is also considered a noxious weed.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Australian Weeds Committee |year=2007 |url=http://www.weeds.org.au/docs/weednet6.pdf |title=Noxious Weed List for Australian States and Territories |work=Cooperative Research Center for Australian Weed Management |accessdate=May 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830083549/http://www.weeds.org.au/docs/weednet6.pdf |archivedate=August 30, 2007 }}</ref>

The plant often outcompetes native vegetation, forming dense fields where other species are almost completely crowded out. Stands of French broom can be so thick that they make meadows and pastures useless for wild and domestic animals. It can also shade out tree seedlings in reforested areas and tends to catch fire.<ref name="Hoshovsky"/>

==Toxicity==

The leaves and seeds contain alkaloids which are poisonous to many large domestic animals.<ref name="Hoshovsky"/>

==See also== *Broom (shrub)

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Genista monspessulana}} *French Broom Information Page {{PLANTS|symbol=GEMO2|taxon=Genista monspessulana (L.) L.A.S. Johnson|access-date=7 June 2022}} *[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=3774 French Broom Webpage] from the [https://web.archive.org/web/20181117025044/http://calflora.org/ Calflora.org] website; the webpage gives links to additional photos. Retrieved May 17, 2007. *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070531203937/http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/genimons.html ''Genista monspessulans'' (French Broom)], from [https://web.archive.org/web/20070527143137/http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/ The Global Invasive Species Initiative] website; the webpage has links to several photographs. Retrieved May 19, 2007.

monspessulana Category:Flora of Western Asia Category:Flora of Europe Category:Flora of Africa Category:Matorral shrubland Category:Plants described in 1753 Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

Genista monspessulana

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