The gorse (Genista scorpius) is a medium-sized thorny shrub that belongs to the Fabaceae family. Known as gorse, arbulaga, argoma, gorse, hawthorn, ginesta, olaguín, piorno or retamón, it is an endemic plant of the western Mediterranean region.
Highly branched shrubby plant that can be up to 2 m tall, with a grayish-green bark covered with firm, curved spines. The scarce leaves are small, alternate and unifoliate, the yellow papilionaceous flowers are grouped in 2-3 units and the fruit is a flattened legume..
The specific epithet comes from the noun "scorpius" which means "scorpion", referring to the strong pricks caused by its spines. Blooms profusely between March and June, bears fruit throughout the summer, and legumes ripen evenly in late summer.
Its flowers are used in a traditional way to dye woolen cloths, fabrics and upholstery yellow. It is believed that gorse dyed fabrics are not attacked by moths.
In addition, it has medicinal properties, infusions of its flowers and its seeds act as cardiotonic, diuretic, depurative, purgative, vasoconstrictor and emetic. However, the seeds have secondary metabolites that are toxic, so their frequent consumption should be restricted..
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Shrubby plant with erect growth, it is 2 m tall and has intricate branching, ashen bark and hirsute when young, dark and smooth when adult. The branches have strong lateral, axial, recurved and sharp spines, arranged alternately.
Scarce, simple, alternate, unifoliate and stipulate leaves, glabrous on the upper surface and pubescent on the underside. They are generally elliptical or lanceolate in shape and are 3 to 9 mm in length..
The flowers with a papillionaceous corolla and an intense yellow color are arranged in groups of 2-3, in the axils of the spines or on the short lateral branches. It has leaf-like bracts, five yellow petals, a 9 mm long obovate banner, and 10 monadelpho stamens..
The fruit is a smooth, elongated and flattened legume of brown color, with thick margins that is 15-35 mm long. Inside there are 2 to 7 seeds that are marked on the outside.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Fabales
- Family: Fabaceae
- Subfamily: Faboideae
- Tribe: Genisteae
- Gender: Genista
- Species: Genista scorpius (L.) DC.
- Genista: the name of the genus comes from the Latin term "genesta". In the Spanish dictionary "genista" means broom, alluding to the shrubs with flexible and thin branches with few leaves..
- scorpius: the specific adjective derives from the Latin noun "scorpius" which means "scorpion". Alluding to the painful pricks produced by its spines.
- Genista scorpius subsp. myriantha (BALL) Emb. & Maire.
- Spartium scorpius, L. 1753
- Genista purgans, L. 1759
- Genista spiniflora, The m. 1779
- Spartium purgans (L.) Salisb. 1796
- Cytisus purgans, (L.) Boiss. 1839
- Corniola scorpius, (L.) C. Presl. 1845
- Drymospartum purgans, (L.) C. Presl 1845
- Spartocytisus purgans (L.) Webb & Berthel. 1846
- Genista scorpius var. campylocarpa, Willk. 1851
- Genista scorpius var. macracantha, Rouy & Foucaud in Rouy 1897
- Genista scorpius var. acutangula, Go. 1900
- Genista salesii, Sennen 1927
- Algeria scorpius, (L.) Fourr. 1953
- Corothamnus purgans, (L.) Ponert 1973
Among the species of the genus Genista associated with gorseGenista scorpius), the following can be mentioned:
- Genista aetnensis: it is the largest plant of the genus, reaching up to 3.5 m in height. It can be grown as a small tree, although it is not very hardy.
- Genista baetica: known as yellow broom, it is a stunted shrub with abundant thorns.
- G. canariensis: native species of the Canary Islands, grows up to 1.5 m in height.
- G. cinerea: shrub with erect and flexible branches, usually 8-10 ribs and reaching 1.5 m in height.
- Genista falcata: 1 m high thorny shrub known as gorse, characterized in that the adult branches are devoid of leaves.
- Genista florida: medium-sized shrub that reaches 3 m in height, known as broom, broom or white broom. The lanceolate leaves with a tomentose underside are 15 mm. A yellow tint is obtained from its flowers.
- G. haenseleri: 2 m tall shrub known as bolina. Its branches are cylindrical and striated, with lanceolate and tomentose leaves..
- Hispanic G.: short shrub that reaches barely 50 cm high. It is a kind of prostrate habit, dense and thorny branches, used for cover.
- Hirsute genista: 1 m high, dense and strongly thorny bushes. The branches have five prominent ribs along the length..
- Genista lucida: stocky, thorny shrub known as gatosa.
- G. lydia: plant 90 cm high, branches arched and spread, with deciduous leaves of bluish tones. Ideal for covering rockeries and walls.
- G. sanabrensis: the genista from Sanabria is endemic to this region of Spain. It is very thorny, has a prostrate growth habit and its branches are provided with 10-12 ribs..
- Genista ramosissima: 1.5 m high shrub, known as broom. It is characterized by its long, hanging, fluted branches with numerous knots..
- Genista scorpius: plant 2 m high, called gorse or gorse. The very thorny branches have 8 longitudinal ribs; the flowers are used to obtain a natural yellow tint.
- G. spartioides: 1.5 m tall shrub known as bolina. Branches striated longitudinally, spiny and devoid of leaves.
- G. tinctorea: its specific name derives from the dye that is extracted from its roots. It is commonly known as dyers broom.
- Genista triacanthos: 1 m high shrub, its firm and strong spines are grouped into three units. Known as Moorish gorse.
- Genista umbellata: grows to more than 1 m in height, lacks thorns and its bark is yellowish. It is known as bolina.
Endemic plant of the western Mediterranean basin that is distributed in the southeast of France, east of the Iberian Peninsula and certain localities in North Africa. In Spain it is located in the communities of Aragon, Castilla, Catalonia, Navarra and Valencia, being occasional in the regions of Atlantic influence.
The species Genista scorpius It is part of the Mediterranean scrub vegetation, fallow lands, pastures, fenalares, thyme or kermes oak, pine and juniper forests. It is located on the meso-Mediterranean and supra-Mediterranean floors, from the hill to the montane floor, characterized by environments between dry and humid.
It grows on soils of calcareous or loamy origin, generally carbonated with an alkaline pH, on open slopes in full sun exposure. In some areas it forms monospecific thickets, particularly in highly degraded areas, being rare at elevations with high rainfall..
It is considered a bioindicator species of continental climate. In fact, its presence is reduced in the littoral zone and increases towards the continental zone..
- The establishment of the crop requires full sun exposure, loose and well-drained soils, preferably sandy and with low fertility..
- Gorse requires temperate climates, as it is susceptible to low temperatures, however, it is a plant that tolerates drought.
- The ideal temperature for its growth and development ranges between 18-22 ° C.
- Irrigation should be more abundant during the summer and occasionally during the winter, however, this species is not very susceptible to a lack of humidity..
Plants of the genus Genista They are commonly propagated by seed during the spring or through cuttings during the summer. In the case of the species Genista scorpius, fresh seeds collected directly from healthy and vigorous plants are used.
The seeds do not require pre-germination treatment or special care, they only need a permeable substrate and moisture during the germination process. Sowing by seeds is carried out at the beginning of spring so that the cool environment promotes its growth and development..
Propagation through cuttings can be established during the summer season, either in beds or pots. The cuttings, selected from lateral branches, must remain in a humid environment until the emission of roots begins, a process that is simple in this species..
The roots, leaves, flowers and seeds of gorse contain various secondary metabolites, alkaloids and flavonoids with medicinal properties. These include essential oils, the alkaloid cytisine, the flavonoids luteolin and genistein, sugars, tannins, waxes, mucilages and vitamin C.
There are several documented medicinal uses for the species Genista scorpius, better known as gorse. Among them, its cardiotonic, diuretic, depurative, purgative, vasoconstrictive and emetic effect stands out..
In addition, its consumption as an infusion, tea or decoction is recommended for the treatment of related disorders such as the heart, liver or kidney. Similarly, it is indicated to regulate symptoms of albuminuria, constipation, dropsy, hypotension, gout, lithiasis and rheumatism..
The infusion or tea is prepared with a handful of flowers in a cup of boiling water, strained and sweetened with honey. Its ingestion once fasting or three times a day after meals favors the health of the liver and kidneys.
The cooking of 30 grams of fresh flowers in a liter of boiled water has a diuretic effect if 3-4 glasses a day are ingested. This same cooking, with double the amount of flowers and the same way of consumption, has laxative effects..
The decoction of the roots, taken three times a day, is used to cure liver and kidney diseases. The same decoction, incorporating leaves and flowers, is used as a gargle to cure infections of the mouth and throat.
The powder of the seeds consumed in a dose of 4-5 gr in a glass of clear wine, is an artisan remedy for the treatment of dropsy. It is recommended to take two tablespoons of olive oil one hour later to regulate its effect..
From the dried branches and flowers through a grinding process a flour with healing properties is obtained. This warm flour on a woolen cloth is placed on the face to soothe a toothache..
The flowers are used to dye wool fabrics yellow. Insecticidal properties are attributed to it against moths that attack tissues.
The establishment of the crop is carried out during the spring, trying to locate the seedlings in a place where they receive direct light..
It adapts to any type of soil, from siliceous or calcareous with alkaline pH, to stony soils, rodenos and rubiales soils.
Once established, the irrigation application is carried out with low intensity, just 1-2 times a week.
It is a plant that does not require frequent fertilization. In the case of ornamental plantations, it is recommended to apply organic fertilizers, such as composted manure or guano during spring or summer.
Maintenance or sanitation pruning should be done in late spring or summer. Pruning consists of removing the branches that have flowered to preserve the shape and dense habit.
Pruning old or heavily lignified branches is not recommended, as woody branches do not have the ability to re-sprout.
It is a very resistant plant to drought, being used in some areas to restore eroded or impoverished land. Grown as an ornamental plant, it does not tolerate occasional frosts, so during winter if the temperature drops to -4 ºC it is necessary to protect it.
Gorse is a rustic and resistant plant, as long as it is well cared for, it is unlikely to be attacked by insects. However, conditions such as lack of irrigation or weakness of the plant, can favor the attack of certain pests, such as mealybugs or aphids..
Mealybugs with a cottony or leathery appearance are located on the underside of leaves and shoots, feeding on the sap of tender tissues. Aphids of only 5 mm yellow, green or brown color are located in the buds and flower buds. Its control is with physical methods.
The excessive application of irrigation on the foliage or the flooding of the substrate favors the appearance of fungal diseases. The presence of gray or white mold on stems and leaves, blackened stems or rots at the base of the stem, are symptoms of the presence of fungi. The control is carried out with specific fungicides.
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