Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Ulex europaeus
common gorse
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California; also in the eastern U.S.

Habitat: Roadsides, dry hillsides, fields, and other disturbed areas at low elevation.

Flowers: April-September

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Description:
General:

Pubescent shrub, 1-3 m. tall, the branches greenish, prominently angled, sharply spine-tipped.

Leaves:

Leaves rigid and prickly.

Flowers:

Flowers pea-like, showy, borne along the short, stout, lateral branches; pedicels 3-6 mm. long; calyx 10-15 mm. long, hairy; corolla yellow, 15-20 mm. long; keel hairy along the lower margin, slightly shorter than the wings.

Fruits:

Pod hairy.

Accepted Name:
Ulex europaeus L.
Publication: Sp. Pl. 2: 741. 1753.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
(none provided)
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Ulex europaeus in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database

WA Flora Checklist: Ulex europaeus checklist entry

OregonFlora: Ulex europaeus information

E-Flora BC: Ulex europaeus atlas page

CalPhotos: Ulex europaeus photos

22 photographs:
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