Ulex

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Fabaceae
Subfamilia: Faboideae
Tribus: Genisteae
Genus: Ulex
Species: U. argenteus – U. australis – U. baeticus – U. borgiae – U. × breoganii – U. canescens – U. cantabricus – U. × dalilae – U. densus – U. erinaceus – U. europaeus – U. gallii – U. jussiaei – U. × lagrezii – U. micranthus – U. minor – U. parviflorus
Source(s) of checklist:

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Ulex in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Jan 31. Reference page.

Name

Ulex L. (1753)

Type species: U. europaeus L.

Synonyms

Genista-spartium Duhamel, Traité Arbres Arbust. 1: 261. 1755.

References

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum 2: 741.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Ulex in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Jan 31. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2021. Ulex. Published online. Accessed: Jan 31 2021.
Tropicos.org 2021. Ulex. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Jan 31.
Hassler, M. 2021. Ulex. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Jan 31. Reference page.

Vernacular names
brezhoneg: Lann
čeština: hlodáš
dansk: Tornblad
Deutsch: Stechginster (Gattung)
English: gorse
Esperanto: Ulekso
euskara: Ote
فارسی: آلکس
suomi: Piikkiherneet
français: Ajonc
Gaeilge: Aiteann
Gaelg: Aittin
Ido: Ulexo
ქართული: ჯოჯო
lietuvių: Dygliakrūmis
Nederlands: gaspeldoorn
norsk: Gulltornslekta
polski: Kolcolist
português: Tojo
русский: Улекс
slovenčina: cezmína
svenska: Ärttörnesläktet

Ulex (commonly known as gorse, furze, or whin) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. The genus comprises about 20 species of thorny evergreen shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae. The species are native to parts of western Europe and northwest Africa, with the majority of species in Iberia.

Gorse is closely related to the brooms and like them has green stems and very small leaves and is adapted to dry growing conditions. However it differs in its extreme thorniness, the shoots being modified into branched thorns 1–4 centimetres (1⁄2–1+1⁄2 inches) long, which almost wholly replace the leaves as the plant's functioning photosynthetic organs. The leaves of young plants are trifoliate, but in mature plants they are reduced to scales or small spines.[2] All the species have yellow flowers, generally showy, some with a very long flowering season.

Species

The most widely familiar species is common gorse (Ulex europaeus), the only species native to much of western Europe, where it grows in sunny sites, usually on dry, sandy soils. It is also the largest species, reaching 2–3 m (7–10 ft) in height; this compares with typically 20–40 cm (8–16 in) for western gorse (Ulex gallii). This latter species is characteristic of highly exposed Atlantic coastal heathland and montane habitats. In the eastern part of Great Britain dwarf furze (Ulex minor) replaces western gorse. Ulex minor grows only about 30 cm (12 in) tall, a habit characteristic of sandy lowland heathland.
In full flower at Dalgarven Mill in Scotland.
Fruiting at Mallaig, Scotland

Common gorse flowers a little in late autumn and through the winter, coming into flower most strongly in spring. Western gorse and dwarf furze flower in late summer (August–September in Ireland and Great Britain). Between the different species, some gorse is almost always in flower, hence the old country saying: "When gorse is out of blossom, kissing's out of fashion".[3] Gorse flowers have a distinctive coconut scent, experienced very strongly by some individuals but weakly by others.[4][5]
Species list

Ulex comprises the following species:[6][7][8]

Ulex argenteus Webb
subsp. argenteus Webb
subsp. erinaceus (Webb) D.A.Webb
Ulex borgiae Rivas Mart.
Ulex breoganii (Castroviejo & Valdes-Bermejo) Castrovioejo & Valdes-Bermejo.
Ulex cantabricus Alvarez & al.
Ulex densus Webb
Ulex europaeus L.—common gorse
Ulex gallii Planch.—western gorse or western furze
Ulex micranthus Lange
Ulex minor Roth—dwarf furze or dwarf gorse
Ulex parviflorus Pourr.
subsp. africanus (Webb) Greuter
subsp. eriocladus (C.Vicioso) D.A.Webb
subsp. funkii (Webb) Guinea
subsp. jussiaei (Webb) D.A.Webb
subsp. parviflorus Pourr.
Ulex salzmanni (Webb) Willk.

Species names with uncertain taxonomic status

The status of the following species is unresolved:[8]

Ulex airensis Esp.Santo et al.
Ulex autumnalis Thore
Ulex baicheri Rouy
Ulex boivini Cosson ex Nyman
Ulex boivini Webb
Ulex bonnieri Hy
Ulex bovini Welw. ex Webb
Ulex bovini Willk.
Ulex ceballosi Pau
Ulex ceballosii (Vicioso) Pau
Ulex congestus Pau
Ulex ericetarum Pourr. ex Willk. & Lange
Ulex ericetorum Pourr. ex Willk. & Lange
Ulex eriophorus Gand.
Ulex flahaulti Hy
Ulex funkii Webb
Ulex grandiflorus Pourr.
Ulex hispanicus auct.
Ulex hispanicus Pourr. ex Willk. & Lange
Ulex ianthocladus Webb
Ulex intermedius Le Gall
Ulex lagrezii Rouy
Ulex lanuginosus Pourr. ex Willk. & Lange
Ulex latebracteatus (Mariz) Rivas Mart., T.E.Díaz & Fern.Prieto
Ulex lucidus Willk.
Ulex mauritii Sennen
Ulex mauritii Sennen & Mauricio
Ulex maximilianii Sennen & Mauricio
Ulex megalorites Willk.
Ulex microclada Sennen
Ulex microclada Sennen & Mauricio
Ulex mitis G.Don
Ulex narcissi Sennen
Ulex provincialis Le Gall
Ulex provinicialis Loisel.
Ulex revurvatus Willk.
Ulex richteri Rouy
Ulex rivasgodayanus (Cubas) Cabezudo & Pérez Lat.
Ulex salzmannii Willk.
Ulex sparsiflorus Lange
Ulex spicatus Gand.
Ulex subsericeus (Cout.) Rivas Mart., T.E.Díaz & Fern.Gonz.
Ulex tazensis (Braun-Blanq. & Maire) Pau & Font Quer
Ulex vicentinus (Daveau) Castro
Ulex vidali Pau
Ulex vidalii Pau
Ulex willkommii Webb

Hybrids

The following hybrids have been described:[8]

Ulex ×flahaultii Hy
Ulex ×gonnetii Hy

Ecology

Gorse may grow as a fire-climax plant, well adapted to encourage and withstand fires, being highly flammable[9] and having seed pods that are to a large extent opened by fire, thus allowing rapid regeneration after fire. The burnt stumps also readily sprout new growth from the roots. Where fire is excluded gorse soon tends to be shaded out by taller-growing trees unless other factors such as exposure also apply. Typical fire recurrence periods in gorse stands are 5–20 years.

Gorse thrives in poor growing areas and conditions including drought;[10] it is sometimes found on very rocky soils,[11] where many species cannot thrive. Moreover it is widely used for land reclamation (e.g. mine tailings), where its nitrogen-fixing capacity helps other plants establish better.

Gorse is a valuable plant for wildlife, providing dense thorny cover ideal for protecting bird nests. In Britain, France and Ireland it is particularly noted for supporting Dartford warblers (Sylvia undata) and European stonechats (Saxicola rubicola); the common name of the whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) attests to its close association with gorse. The flowers are sometimes eaten by the caterpillars of the double-striped pug moth (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata), whilst those of the case-bearer moth Coleophora albicosta feed exclusively on gorse. The dry wood of dead gorse stems provides food for the caterpillars of the concealer moth Batia lambdella.
Invasive species
Ulex landscape around Corral Bay in Southern Chile
See also: Gorse in New Zealand and Biological control of gorse in New Zealand

In many areas of North America (notably California and Oregon), southern South America, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii the common gorse, introduced as an ornamental plant or hedge, has become an invasive species owing to its aggressive seed dispersal; it has proved very difficult to eradicate and detrimental in native habitats. Common gorse is also an invasive species in the montane grasslands of Horton Plains National Park in Sri Lanka.[12]
Controlled burning of gorse in Devon, England
Management

Gorse readily becomes dominant in suitable conditions, and where this is undesirable for agricultural or ecological reasons control is required, either to remove gorse completely or to limit its extent. Gorse stands are often managed by regular burning or flailing, allowing them to regrow from stumps or seed. Denser areas of gorse may be bulldozed.
A whin-stone at Dalgarven Mill, Scotland, used to crush whin for use as winter feed for cattle
Uses
Foods

Gorse flowers are edible and can be used in salads and tea and to make a non-grape-based fruit wine.

As fodder gorse is high in protein[13] it may be used as feed for livestock, particularly in winter when other greenstuff is not available. Traditionally it was used as fodder for cattle, being made palatable either by bruising (crushing) with hand-held mallets or grinding to a moss-like consistency with hand- or water-driven mills or being finely chopped and mixed with straw chaff. Gorse is also eaten as forage by some livestock, such as feral ponies, which may eat little else in winter. Ponies may also eat the thinner stems of burnt gorse.
Fuel

Gorse bushes are highly flammable and in many areas bundles of gorse were used to fire traditional bread ovens.[14]

In the island of Guernsey, Channel Islands, many traditional farms had furze brakes. The prolific gorse and bracken would be cut, dried and stored to be used as fuel, with farmhouses having purpose-built furze ovens.[15][16]
Wood

Gorse wood has been used to make small objects; being non-toxic it is especially suited for cutlery. In spite of its durability it is not used for construction because the plant is too small and the wood is unstable, being prone to warping. Gorse is useful for garden ornaments because it is resistant to weather and rot.
Common gorse flowers
Alternative medicine

Gorse has been listed as one of the 38 plants that are used to prepare Bach flower remedies,[17] a kind of alternative medicine.
Gorse-based symbols

The furze is the badge of the Sinclair and MacLennan clans of Scotland. The flower, known as chorima in the Galician language, is the national flower of Galicia in northwest Spain.

The gorse is also the emblem of Brittany and is regaining popularity in Cornwall, particularly on St Piran's Day.
Dartmoor ponies sheltering behind furze
In popular culture

Its flammability rendered gorse symbolic as quickly flammable and quickly burning out; for example, Doyle, in his book Sir Nigel, has Sir John Chandos say: "... They flare up like a furzebush in the flames, but if for a short space you may abide the heat of it, then there is a chance that it may be cooler... If the Welsh be like the furze fire, then, pardieu! the Scotch are the peat, for they will smolder and you will never come to the end of them."[18]

In many parts of Britain, especially Devon and Cornwall where it is particularly prevalent on the moors, the expression "kissing's out of fashion when the gorse is out of blossom"[19] is a traditional jest as common gorse is thought to be always in bloom. Gorse, or rather furze as it was usually known in the West Country, sprigs were a traditional May Day gift between young lovers in the region, when in fact the blossom is at its peak.
References

Cardoso D, Pennington RT, de Queiroz LP, Boatwright JS, Van Wyk BE, Wojciechowski MF, Lavin M (2013). "Reconstructing the deep-branching relationships of the papilionoid legumes" (PDF). S Afr J Bot. 89: 58–75. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2013.05.001.
AR Clapham, TG Tutin, EF Warburg, Flora of the British Isles, Cambridge, 1962, p. 331
"When the gorse is out of bloom, kissing's out of fashion". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
"Gorse". Plantlife International. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
Moore, Charles (28 September 2009). "Richard Mabey, a writer dropping down to see the natural world". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
"ILDIS LegumeWeb entry for Ulex". International Legume Database & Information Service. Cardiff School of Computer Science & Informatics. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
USDA; ARS; National Genetic Resources Program. "GRIN species records of Ulex". Germplasm Resources Information Network—(GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
"The Plant List entry for Ulex". The Plant List. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Missouri Botanical Garden. 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
Pausas; et al. (2011). "Fires enhance flammability in Ulex parviflorus" (PDF). New Phytologist. 193 (1): 18–23. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03945.x. PMID 22039968.
"Ulex europaeus Gorse, Common gorse PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org.
C. Michael Hogan (2008) "Catto Long Barrow field notes", The Modern Antiquarian
Lalith Gunasekera, Invasive Plants: A guide to the identification of the most invasive plants of Sri Lanka, Colombo 2009, pp. 88–89.
Van Hoeffler; et al. (2007). "Suitability of Ulex fodder: a biochemical analysis with emphasis on nutritional content". European Journal of Agricultural Science. 20 (13): 89–102.
"Experimental Archaeology Site at Tunstall". Suffolk County Council. "We have tried different woods as fuel to see which is most efficient and our favourite is dead gorse, collected locally and a dominant species on the sandy soils in this area. Analysis of woods used in the Roman salt industry that took place on the estuary a mile away shows they were using the same fuel."
"Out in the fields of gold". Guernsey press. 19 April 2012.
"Les Prevosts farm". guernseygoasdoue. 2015-01-24.
DS Vohra (1 June 2004). Bach Flower Remedies: A Comprehensive Study. B. Jain Publishers. p. 3. ISBN 978-81-7021-271-3. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan (1906). Sir Nigel. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
"Kissing's in fashion …". plant-lore.com. 31 December 2014.