Genista pilosa

Hairy broom ( Genista pilosa )

Hairy broom ( Genista pilosa ) is a species in the legume family ( Fabaceae ). You can also find the names heath broom broom or sand.

Features

The deciduous, dichtbuschige dwarf shrub has prostrate to ascending branches and reaches stature heights up to 30 inches. The younger branches are hairy plump and fitting, older are längsstreifig and knotty and thornless.

The alternate leaves are arranged individually on the long shoots, or in tufts. They are up to 1 cm long and 4 mm wide. The leaf shape is oval and lanceolate folded along the midrib. Their color is dark green above, the leaves are densely hairy silky.

The golden-yellow flowers appear singly or up to third in the leaf axils of the previous year shoots. They are up to a centimeter long. Bloom time is from May to August.

There are about 2.5 centimeters long legumes formed which bear fine, thin hairs on the side seams. Fruit ripening occurs from July.

Occurrence

The species is widespread in central -south and south-west Europe. In Germany it is found mainly in the northwestern lowlands and missing south of the Danube. As the site sunny, dry warm, lime-free seams of bushes and forests and heaths and dry meadows are preferred. The Hairy broom is considered as indicator plant for acidified soils.