Genista tinctoria, L.

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 : 95-96

1. G. tinctoria L. , Sp. Pl. 710 (1753)

(incl. G. depressa Bieb. , G. hungarica A. Kerner , G. marginata Besser , G. mayeri Janka , G. ovata Waldst. & Kit. , G. tanaitica Smirnov , G. tetragona Besser , G. patula Bieb. ).

Procumbent to erect shrub, 10-200 cm. Leaves 9-50 x 2-5-15 mm, simple, very variable in shape; leaves, calyx and legume glabrous to densely sericeous. Flowers borne singly in the axil of each bract in short racemes towards ends of branches, or in long, simple or compound racemes. Bracts foliaceous; bracteoles c. 1m m; pedicel 1-2 mm. Calyx 3-7 mm; corolla glabrous; standard 8—15 mm, broadly ovate. 2« = 48. Most o f Europe from S. Scotland and Estonia southwards, but absent from many o f the islands. Al Au Be Br Bu Cz D a Ga Ge G r He Ho Hs Hu It Ju No Po Rm Rs (B, C, W, K, E) Su Tu.

Very variable in habit, leaf-shape and degree of hairiness. Populations occur showing different combinations of these characters and these have been variously referred to as distinct species or subspecies. Much of the variation is continuous and there is little correlation between the different characters. It is not at present possible to give a comprehensive account of the variation in this species, but the taxa that are generally recognized can be arranged in the following 4 groups:

(i) ( G. anxantica Ten. , G. campestris Janka , G. elata Wenderoth , G. tenuifolia Loisel. , G. tinctoria L. sensu stricto, G. virgata Willd. ): Plant 20-200 cm, erect or ascending; leaves (10—)15— 35 x 2-5-6(-9) mm, oblong or lanceolate, glabrous with ciliate margins and midrib and conspicuous lateral veins; flowers numerous, in simple or branched racemes; calyx and legume usually glabrous.

(ii) (G. alpestris Bertol. , G. tinctoria subsp. littoralis (Corb.) Rothm. ): Plant not more than 20 cm, procumbent; leaves 9-12 x

3-4 mm, ovate-elliptical to elliptic-oblong, glabrous with cibate margins and midrib, usually with conspicuous lateral veins; flowers few; calyx and legume usually glabrous. (iii) (G. hungarica A. Kerner, G. lasiocarpa Spach, G. montica Pollini, G. mayeri Janka , G. ovata Waldst. & Kit. , G. perreymondii Loisel.): Plant 20-200 cm, erect or ascending; leaves 20-50 x 6-15 mm, ovate or elliptical, usually pubescent, with conspicuous lateral veins; flowers numerous, in simple or branched racemes; calyx and legume usually pubescent. (iv) (G. csikii Kümmerle & Jâv., G. depressa Bieb. , G.friwaldskyi Boiss. , G. tetragona Besser ): Plant usually not more than 20 cm, procumbent; leaves 10-20 x 3-5 mm, lanceolate, elliptical, oblong or oblanceolate, usually pubescent, without conspicuous lateral veins; flowers few; calyx and legume glabrous or pubescent. The precise distribution of these variants is not clear; (i) and (ii) probably occur almost throughout the range of the species, (iii) in C. & S. Europe and possibly in E. Europe, (iv) in S.E. Europe.