Genista is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family Fabaceae, native to open habitats such as moorland and pasture in Europe and western Asia. They include species commonly called broom, though the term may also refer to other genera, including Cytisus and Chamaecytisus. Brooms in other genera are sometimes considered synonymous with Genista: Echinospartum, Retama, Spartium, Stauracanthus, and Ulex.

Description

They are mainly deciduous shrubs and trees, often with brush-like foliage, often spiny to deter browsing, and masses of small, pea-like yellow blooms which are sometimes fragrant. Many of the species have flowers that open explosively when alighted on by an insect, the style flying through the upper seam of the keel and striking the underside of the insect, followed by a shower of pollen that coats the insect.

The name of the Plantagenet royal line, which reigned in England from 1154 to 1485, is derived from this genus, being a dialectal variation of planta genista.

Several species are widely cultivated for their often sweet-smelling, abundant blooms early in the season, though many are not fully hardy. The cultivar 'Porlock' has received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in the United Kingdom.

Species

144 species are currently accepted.

  • Genista abchasica <small>Sachokia</small>
  • Genista acanthoclada <small>DC.</small>

<!-- Genista adzharica was reclassified as Genista suanica. -->

  • Genista aetnensis <small>(Biv.) DC.</small>—Mount Etna broom

<!-- Genista alba was reclassified as Cytisus multiflorus. -->

  • Genista albida <small>Willd.</small>

<!-- Genista alpestris was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

  • Genista anatolica <small>Boiss.</small>

<!-- Genista ancistrocarpa was reclassified as Genista anglica. -->

<!-- Genista andicola was reclassified as Anarthrophyllum andicolum. -->

<!-- Genista andreana was reclassified as Cytisus scoparius. -->

  • Genista anglica <small>L.</small>—petty whin, needle furze

<!-- Genista angulata was reclassified as Gonocytisus angulatus. -->

  • Genista angustifolia <small>Schischkin</small>

<!-- Genista antiochia was reclassified as Genista lydia. -->

<!-- Genista anxantica was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

  • Genista arbusensis <small>Vals.</small>
  • Genista aristata <small>C. Presl</small>
  • Genista armeniaca <small>Spach</small>
  • Genista aspalathoides <small>Lam.</small>
  • Genista aucheri <small>Boiss.</small>
  • Genista ausetana <small>(O. Bolòs & Vigo) Talavera</small>

<!-- Genista baetica was reclassified as Genista versicolor. -->

  • Genista balearica <small>Porta & Rigo</small>
  • Genista banatica <small>(Simonk.) Holub</small>

<!-- Genista barnadesii was reclassified as Echinospartum lusitanicum. -->

  • Genista benehoavensis <small>(Bolle ex Svent.) del Arco</small>
  • Genista berberidea <small>Lange</small>

<!-- Genista biflora was reclassified as Cytisus fontanesii. -->

<!-- Genista boissieri was reclassified as Echinospartum boissieri. -->

<!-- Genista borysthenica was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

<!-- Genista broteri is a misspelling of Genista broteroi, which was reclassified as Genista micrantha. -->

<!-- Genista broteroi was reclassified as Genista micrantha. -->

  • Genista burdurensis <small>P.E. Gibbs</small>

<!-- Genista buxifolia was reclassified as Cyclopia buxifolia. -->

  • Genista cadasonensis <small>Vals.</small>

<!-- Genista campestris was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

  • Genista canariensis <small>L.</small>

<!-- Genista candicans was reclassified as Genista monspessulana. -->

<!-- Genista capitata was reclassified as Cytisus hirsutus. -->

  • Genista capitellata <small>Coss.</small>
  • Genista carinalis <small>Griseb.</small>
  • Genista carpetana <small>Lange</small>
  • Genista cephalantha <small>Spach</small>
  • Genista cinerascens <small>Lange</small>
  • Genista cinerea <small>(Vill.) DC.</small>
  • Genista clavata <small>Poir.</small>
  • Genista compacta <small>Schischkin</small>
  • Genista corsica <small>(Loisel.) DC.</small>

<!-- Genista cumingii was reclassified as Anarthrophyllum cumingii. -->

  • Genista cupanii <small>Guss.</small>

<!-- Genista cuspidosa was reclassified as Calobota cuspidosa. -->

<!-- Genista dalmatica was reclassified as Genista sylvestris. -->

<!-- Genista decipiens was reclassified as Genista tournefortii. -->

<!-- Genista decumbens was reclassified as Genista pilosa. -->

<!-- Genista delphinensis was reclassified as Genista sagittalis. -->

<!-- Genista demnatensis was reclassified as Genista cephalantha. -->

  • Genista depressa <small>M. Bieb.</small>

<!-- Genista desiderata was reclassified as Anarthrophyllum desideratum. -->

  • Genista desoleana <small>Vals.</small>

<!-- Genista diffusa was reclassified as Cytisus pseudoprocumbens. -->

<!-- Genista donetzica was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

  • Genista dorycnifolia <small>Font Quer</small>

<!-- Genista dracunculoides was reclassified as Genista transcaucasica. -->

<!-- Genista echinus was reclassified as Genista acanthoclada. -->

<!-- Genista elata was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

<!-- Genista elatior was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

<!-- Genista elegans was reclassified as Anarthrophyllum elegans. -->

  • Genista ephedroides <small>DC.</small>

<!-- Genista equisetiformis was reclassified as Genista umbellata. -->

<!-- Genista erioclada was reclassified as Genista hirsuta. -->

  • Genista falcata <small>Brot.</small>
  • Genista fasselata <small>Decne.</small>
  • Genista ferox <small>Poir.</small>
  • Genista flagellaris <small>Sommier & Levier</small>
  • Genista florida <small>L.</small>
  • Genista fukarekiana <small>Micevski & E. Mey.</small>
  • Genista gasparrinii <small>(Guss.) C. Presl</small>

<!-- Genista gayana was reclassified as Anarthrophyllum gayanum. -->

  • Genista germanica <small>L.</small>

<!-- Genista gibraltarica was reclassified as Genista tridens. -->

<!-- Genista glaberrima was reclassified as Genista suanica. -->

<!-- Genista glabrescens was reclassified as Cytisus emeriflorus. -->

<!-- Genista godetii was reclassified as Genista albida. -->

  • Genista haenseleri <small>Boiss.</small>
  • Genista halacsyi <small>Heldr.</small>
  • Genista hassertiana <small>(Bald.) Buchegger</small>

<!-- Genista heterocantha was reclassified as Genista germanica. -->

<!-- Genista hillebrandii was reclassified as Genista canariensis. -->

  • Genista hillebrandtii <small>H. Christ</small>
  • Genista hirsuta <small>M. Vahl</small>
  • Genista hispanica <small>L.</small>
  • Genista holopetala <small>(Koch) Bald.</small>

<!-- Genista horrida was reclassified as Echinospartum horridum. -->

  • Genista humifusa <small>L.</small>

<!-- Genista humilis was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

<!-- Genista hungarica was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

  • Genista hystrix <small>Lange</small>
  • Genista ifniensis <small>Caball.</small>
  • Genista involucrata <small>Spach</small>
  • Genista januensis <small>Viv.</small>
  • subsp. januensis <small>Viv.</small>
  • subsp. lydia <small>(Boiss.) Kit Tan & Ziel.</small>

<!-- Genista juniperina was reclassified as Anarthrophyllum andicolum. -->

  • Genista juzepczukii <small>Tzvelev</small>
  • Genista kolakowskyi <small>Sachokia</small>

<!-- Genista lanuginosa was reclassified as Genista hirsuta. -->

<!-- Genista lasiocarpa was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

<!-- Genista legionensis was reclassified as Genista hystrix. -->

<!-- Genista leptoclada was reclassified as Genista florida. -->

  • Genista libanotica <small>Boiss.</small>
  • Genista linifolia <small>L.</small>—flax broom

<!-- Genista lipskyi was reclassified as Genista humifusa. -->

  • Genista lobelii <small>DC.</small>

<!-- Genista longipes was reclassified as Genista lobelii. -->

  • Genista lucida <small>Cambess.</small>

<!-- Genista lusitanica was reclassified as Echinospartum lusitanicum. -->

<!-- Genista lydia was reclassified as Genista januensis. -->

<!-- Genista madagascariensis was reclassified as Cytisus multiflorus. -->

  • Genista maderensis <small>(Webb & Berthel.) Lowe</small>
  • Genista majorica <small>Canto & M.J. Sanchez</small>

<!-- Genista mantica was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

<!-- Genista marginata was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

<!-- Genista mayeri was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

  • Genista melia <small>Boiss.</small>
  • Genista michelii <small>Spach</small>
  • Genista micrantha <small>Ortega</small>
  • Genista microcephala <small>Coss. & Durieu</small>
  • Genista microphylla <small>DC.</small>
  • Genista millii <small>Boiss.</small>
  • Genista mingrelica <small>Albov</small>

<!-- Genista monosperma was reclassified as Retama monosperma and Retama raetam. -->

  • Genista monspessulana <small>(L.) L.A.S. Johnson</small>—French broom, cape broom, Montpellier broom
  • Genista morisii <small>Colla</small>
  • Genista mugronensis <small>Vierh.</small>

<!-- Genista multibracteata was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

  • Genista nevadensis <small>(Esteve & Vara) Rivas Mart., Asensi, Molero Mesa & F. Valle</small>
  • Genista nissana <small>Petrovic</small>

<!-- Genista nociva was reclassified as Genista carpetana. -->

  • Genista numidica <small>Spach</small>
  • Genista obtusiramea <small>Spach</small>

<!-- Genista occidentalis was reclassified as Genista hispanica. -->

<!-- Genista oligosperma was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

<!-- Genista oretana was reclassified as Genista valentina. -->

  • Genista osmariensis <small>Coss.</small>

<!-- Genista ovata was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

  • Genista oxycedrina <small>Pomel</small>
  • Genista paivae <small>Lowe</small>
  • Genista parnassica <small>Halacsy</small>

<!-- Genista patens was reclassified as Cytisus heterochrous. -->

<!-- Genista patula was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

<!-- Genista perreymondii was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

  • Genista pilosa <small>L.</small>
  • Genista polyanthos <small>Willk.</small>

<!-- Genista polygalifolia was reclassified as Genista florida. -->

<!-- Genista polygaliphylla was reclassified as Genista florida. -->

<!-- Genista polysperma was reclassified as Argyrolobium tomentosum. -->

<!-- Genista pontica was reclassified as Genista millii. -->

<!-- Genista procumbens was reclassified as Cytisus procumbens. -->

<!-- Genista prostrata was reclassified as Cytisus decumbens. -->

  • Genista pseudopilosa <small>Coss.</small>

<!-- Genista ptilophylla was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

<!-- Genista pubescens was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

  • Genista pulchella <small>Vis.</small>

<!-- Genista pumila was reclassified as Genista versicolor. -->

<!-- Genista purgans was reclassified as Cytisus balansae and Cytisus oromediterraneus. -->

  • Genista quadriflora <small>Munby</small>
  • Genista radiata <small>(L.) Scop.</small>

<!-- Genista raetam was reclassified as Retama raetam. -->

  • Genista ramosissima <small>(Desf.) Poir.</small>

<!-- Genista repens was reclassified as Genista pilosa. -->

<!-- Genista retama was reclassified as Retama raetam. -->

<!-- Genista retamoides was reclassified as Genista spartioides. -->

<!-- Genista rhodopaea was reclassified as Genista depressa. -->

<!-- Genista rhodopea was reclassified as Genista lydia. -->

<!-- Genista rhodorhizoides was reclassified as Retama raetam. -->

<!-- Genista rigida was reclassified as Anarthrophyllum rigidum. -->

<!-- Genista romanica was reclassified as Genista dorycnifolia. -->

<!-- Genista rumelica was reclassified as Genista lydia. -->

<!-- Genista rupestris was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

<!-- Genista sachokiana was reclassified as Genista humifusa. -->

  • Genista sagittalis <small>L.</small>

<!-- Genista saharae was reclassified as Calobota saharae. -->

  • Genista sakellariadis <small>Boiss. & Orph.</small>
  • Genista salzmannii <small>DC.</small>
  • Genista sanabrensis <small>Valdes Brem. & al.</small>
  • Genista sandrasica <small>Hartvig & Strid</small>
  • Genista sardoa <small>Vals.</small>

<!-- Genista scandens was reclassified as Caesalpinia crista. -->

<!-- Genista scariosa was reclassified as Genista januensis. -->

<!-- Genista scoparia was reclassified as Cytisus scoparius. -->

<!-- Genista scorpioides was reclassified as Genista triacanthos. -->

  • Genista scorpius <small>(L.) DC.</small>—aulaga
  • Genista scythica <small>Pacz.</small>
  • Genista segonnei <small>(Maire) P.E. Gibbs</small>
  • Genista sericea <small>Wulfen</small>
  • Genista sessilifolia <small>DC.</small>

<!-- Genista siberica is a misspelling of Genista sibirica. -->

  • Genista sibirica <small>L.</small>
  • Genista spachiana <small>Webb</small>
  • Genista spartioides <small>Spach</small>

<!-- Genista sphacelata was reclassified as Genista fasselata. -->

<!-- Genista sphaerocarpa was reclassified as Retama sphaerocarpa. -->

<!-- Genista spinosa was reclassified as Genista germanica. -->

  • Genista spinulosa <small>Pomel</small>
  • Genista splendens <small>Webb & Berthel.</small>
  • Genista stenopetala <small>Webb & Berthel.</small>—sweet broom, Easter broom

<!-- Genista striata was reclassified as Cytisus striatus. -->

  • Genista suanica <small>Schischkin</small>
  • Genista subcapitata <small>Pancic</small>
  • Genista sulcitana <small>Vals.</small>

<!-- Genista supina was reclassified as Chamaecytisus supinus. -->

<!-- Genista supranubia was reclassified as Cytisus supranubius. -->

  • Genista sylvestris <small>Scop.</small>
  • var. pungens <small>(Vis.) Rehder</small>
  • var. sylvestris <small>Scop.</small>

<!-- Genista tanaitica was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

  • Genista taurica <small>Dubovik</small>
  • Genista tejedensis <small>(Porto & Rigo) C. Vicioso</small>
  • Genista tenera <small>(Murray) Kuntze</small>

<!-- Genista tenuifolia was reclassified as Genista tinctoria. -->

  • Genista teretifolia <small>Willk.</small>
  • Genista tetragona <small>Besser</small>
  • Genista thyrrena <small>Vals.</small>
  • Genista tinctoria <small>L.</small>—dyer's broom, woodwaxen
  • var. ovata <small>(Waldst. & Kit.) F. W. Schultz</small>
  • var. tinctoria <small>L.</small>
  • Genista toluensis <small>Vals.</small>
  • Genista tournefortii <small>Spach</small>
  • Genista transcaucasica <small>Schischkin</small>
  • Genista triacanthos <small>Brot.</small>

<!-- Genista triangularis was reclassified as Genista januensis. -->

<!-- Genista tribracteolata was reclassified as Cytisus tribracteolatus. -->

  • Genista tricuspidata <small>Desf.</small>
  • Genista tridens <small>(Cav.) DC.</small>
  • Genista tridentata <small>L.</small>

<!-- Genista triflora was reclassified as Cytisus villosus. -->

<!-- Genista trifoliolata was reclassified as Genista sessilifolia. -->

  • Genista ulicina <small>Spach</small>
  • Genista umbellata <small>(L'Hér.) Poir.</small>
  • Genista valentina <small>(Spreng.) Steud.</small>

<!-- Genista vepres was reclassified as Genista triacanthos. -->

  • Genista verae <small>Juz.</small>
  • Genista versicolor <small>Boiss.</small>

<!-- Genista villarsii was reclassified as Genista pulchella. -->

<!-- Genista virgata was reclassified as Genista tenera and Genista tinctoria. -->

<!-- Genista viscosa was reclassified as Adenocarpus viscosus. -->

<!-- Genista walpersiana was reclassified as Argyrolobium rupestre. -->

<!-- Genista welwitschii was reclassified as Genista tournefortii. -->

<!-- Genista winkleri was reclassified as Genista triacanthos. -->

Species names with uncertain taxonomic status

The status of the following species is unresolved: