Gorse flowers and leaves.

Jul 30

Botanical name: Ulex europaeus

Family Name: Fabaceae

Stems are green to begin with, turning brown and woody with age. All branches terminate with an intimidating spine up to 5cm long. The spines are deeply grooved .

Gorse leaves have the typical leaf form initially, before morphing into deeply furrowed spines. Spines and leaves have a waxy coating and end with a sharp point. They grow in clusters along branches. The waxy coating and impervious tip make them resistant to herbicides.