Common name: Furze, Gorse
Ulex europaeus L. APNI* 
Description: Erect or ascending, spiny shrub, to 2 m high; stems striate, densely hairy with long and short spreading hairs, ± glaucous when young.
Phyllodes linear, mostly 8–30 mm long, spiny, grooved lengthwise, glabrous to pubescent.
Flowers usually solitary, axillary; pedicels 5–7 mm long; bracts c. 2 mm long, yellow, persistent; bracteoles ovate, c. 3 mm long, 2–4 mm wide. Calyx 12–16 mm long, yellowish, densely hairy. Corolla yellow, 15–20 mm long.
Pod oblong, 10–20 mm long, densely hairy; seeds 2.5–3 mm long, brownish, shiny, aril white.
Flowering: mostly spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Cultivated for hedges and as an ornamental, widely naturalized.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *CT, *CWS, *SWS, *SWP
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic. *Tas. *W.A. *S.A.
A double-flowered, infertile form has been recorded from the Orange district (CT).
Text by C. Gardener
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 2 (1991)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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