Cytisus scoparius subsp. maritimus, (Rouy) Heywood

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 89

(b) Subsp. maritimus (Rouy) Heywood , Proc. Bot. Soc. Brit. Is. 3: 176 (1959)

( Genista scoparia var. maritima Rouy ):

Branches procumbent with occasional erect or ascending branches from the centre of the plant up to 40 cm; leaves and young twigs densely sericeous. 2n = 46. Maritime cliffs. Coasts o fN. W. Europe. Plants of this subspecies from Britain, Ireland and the Channel Islands retain their characteristics in cultivation. Records from W. France, Germany and Corse require confirmation. A distinctive variant occurs in Denmark (Jylland) with ascending branches 50-60 cm, and sericeous, 1-foliolate leaves on young twigs. It remains constant in cultivation and may deserve recognition as a further subspecies. Intermediates between it and subsp. scoparius occur in Jylland due to hybridization following the introduction of the latter subspecies.