Spartium

Spartium junceum is a vigorous, deciduous shrub growing to {{convert|2|-|4|m|ft|0|abbr=off}} tall, rarely {{convert|5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, with main stems up to {{convert|5|cm|0|abbr=off}} thick, rarely {{convert|10|cm|0|abbr=on}}. It has thick, somewhat succulent grey-green rush-like shoots with very sparse small deciduous leaves {{Convert|1 to 3|cm|abbr=on|frac=4}} long and up to {{Convert|4|mm|frac=8}} broad. The leaves are of little importance to the plant, with much of the photosynthesis occurring in the green shoots (a water-conserving strategy in its dry climate). The leaves fall away early.[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3691,4212,4213 Jepson Manual Treatment] In late spring and summer shoots are covered in profuse fragrant yellow pea-like flowers 1 to 2 cm across. In late summer, the legumes (seed pods) mature black and reach {{convert|8|-|10|cm|0|abbr=on}} long. They burst open, often with an audible crack, spreading seed from the parent plant.

The Greek name Spartium given to the genus denotes the use of the plant for 'cordage'.{{Cite web|title=A Modern Herbal {{!}} Broom, Spanish|url=https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/brospa73.html|access-date=2021-04-03|website=www.botanical.com}} The Latin specific epithet junceum means "rush-like", referring to the shoots, which show a passing resemblance to those of the rush genus Juncus.{{cite book |title=A–Z encyclopedia of garden plants |year=2008 |publisher=Dorling Kindersley in association with the Royal Horticultural Society |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=978-1405332965 |pages=1136 }}

This species is native to the Mediterranean in southern Europe, southwest Asia and northwest Africa,{{GRIN |accessdate=17 December 2017}} where it is found in sunny sites, usually on dry, sandy soils.

Spartium junceum has been widely introduced into other areas, and is regarded as a noxious invasive species in places with a Mediterranean climate such as California and Oregon, Hawaii, central Chile, southeastern Australia,{{cite web |title=The NSW Government WeedWise Resource from the Department of Primary Industries |url=https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/SpanishBroom}} the Western Cape in South Africa and the Canary Islands and Azores.[http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/spajun/all.html US Forest Service Fire Ecology] It was first introduced to California as an ornamental plant.[http://www.invasive.org/gist/esadocs/documnts/sparjun.pdf Element Stewardship: S. junceum]

Few cases have been described of intoxication by the S. junceum, including accidental ingestion of different parts of the plant by children.{{Cite journal |last1=Martínez Monseny |first1=A. |last2=Martínez Sánchez |first2=L. |last3=Margarit Soler |first3=A. |last4=Trenchs Sainz de la Maza |first4=V. |last5=Luaces Cubells |first5=C. |date=2015-05-01 |title=Poisonous plants: An ongoing problem |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2341287915000861 |journal=Anales de Pediatría (English Edition) |volume=82 |issue=5 |pages=347–353 |doi=10.1016/j.anpede.2014.08.006 |issn=2341-2879|url-access=subscription }} The alkaloids found in all parts of the plant have toxic effects. They initially provoke a transitory stimulation of nicotinic cholinergic receptors followed by a persistent inhibition caused by desensitization. The sparteine has an effect of the heart, reducing its sensitivity and conductivity.{{Cite journal |last1=Tesouro Rodríguez |first1=L. |last2=Saiz Rodríguez |first2=I. |last3=Molina Gutiérrez |first3=M.A. |last4=Rivas Paterna |first4=M.A. |last5=López López |first5=R. |last6=Bueno Barriocanal |first6=M. |date=December 2014 |title=Intoxicación por Spartium junceum (Spanish broom) |url=https://www.analesdepediatria.org/es-intoxicacion-por-spartium-junceum-spanish-articulo-S1695403313005274 |journal=Anales de Pediatría |language=es |volume=81 |issue=6 |pages=e32–e33 |doi=10.1016/j.anpedi.2013.12.008 |pmid=24582126 |issn=1695-4033|url-access=subscription }}

Symptoms present depending on dose, method of exposure, and time elapsed since exposure; these include irritation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa, hypersalivation, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea. In severe cases, neurological symptoms (such as midriasis, headaches, delirium and convulsions) may be present, as well as hypotension, bradycardia, and coma.

The plant is used as an ornamental plant in gardens and in landscape plantings. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web|date=July 2017|title=AGM Plants - Ornamental|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf|access-date=16 November 2018|publisher=Royal Horticultural Society|page=99}}

In Bolivia and Peru, where it is known as retama, (not to be confused with the genus Retama) and has become invasive in some areas. It is one of the most common ornamental plants, often seen growing along sidewalks in La Paz.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}

It has traditionally been used for the production of fiber, especially for tying vines. It is also used as a hedge because of its nitrogen-fixing quality. The plant is also used as a flavoring, and for its essential oil, known as genet absolute.{{Cite web |url=http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/cropView?id=9984 |title=FAO |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194401/http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/cropView?id=9984 |url-status=dead }} Its fibers have been used for cloth and it produces a yellow dye.[http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/brospa73.html botanical.com] The branches are used to make brooms.{{Cite journal |last=Macía |first=Manuel J. |date=2006 |editor-last=Moraes R. |editor-first=Mónica |title=Las plantas de fibra |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/192083315 |journal=Botánica económica de los Andes centrales |language=es |publisher=Universidad Mayor de San Andrés |page=378 |isbn=9789995401214 |oclc=192083315}}

In work carried out on normoglycemic mice at the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of the Republic of Uruguay, the infusion of the flowers were proven to have hypoglycemiant effects.{{Citation |title=Hipoglucemiantes -agentes : aloxano y plantas en general, acción hipoglucemiante de flor de retama (Saprtium junceum) |date=1990 |url=https://riquim.fq.edu.uy/items/show/5505 |access-date=2024-01-18 |publisher=Biblioteca-FQ}} In Turkey, the flowers have been used in traditional medicine to treat ulcers; Turkish studies from 1999 and 2000 have identified a saponin in the plant which has antiulcer properties.{{Cite journal |last1=Yeşilada |first1=E. |last2=Takaishi |first2=Y. |date=August 1999 |title=A saponin with anti-ulcerogenic effect from the flowers of Spartium junceum |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10423862/ |journal=Phytochemistry |volume=51 |issue=7 |pages=903–908 |doi=10.1016/s0031-9422(99)00198-3 |issn=0031-9422 |pmid=10423862|bibcode=1999PChem..51..903Y }}{{Cite journal |last1=Yeşilada |first1=E. |last2=Takaishi |first2=Y. |last3=Fujita |first3=T. |last4=Sezik |first4=E. |date=June 2000 |title=Anti-ulcerogenic effects of Spartium junceum flowers on in vivo test models in rats |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10837986/ |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |volume=70 |issue=3 |pages=219–226 |doi=10.1016/s0378-8741(99)00180-4 |issn=0378-8741 |pmid=10837986}}

Spartium junceum has made its way into the ethnobotany of the indigenous Aymara and Quechua cultures, in which it is believed to protect against evil, probably influenced by similar traditions of Hispanic origin.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} In Peru, it is known as retama, qarwash, inca pancara, talhui.{{Cite book |last=Alarco de Zadra |first=Adriana |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/45860046 |title=Perú: El libro de las plantas mágicas |date=2000 |edition=2nd |page=195 |oclc=45860046 |language=es}}

The Peruvian huayno, Flor de Retama, written by Ricardo Dolorier in 1969, references the yellow flower and the Huanta massacre which occurred that year. Subsequently, all retama flowers were removed from the main plaza out of fear of government repression; today, the entrances to Huanta are planted with the flower.{{Cite web |last=Reynoso |first=Christian |date=2009-11-15 |title=Dolorier y la flor de Retama: pólvora y dinamita del corazón |url=https://www.losandes.com.pe/oweb/Sociedad/20091115/29789.html |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Los Andes}}

Known in Catalan as ginesta, it has often been regarded as the national flower of Catalonia, sometimes in combination with red poppies.{{in lang|ca}} [http://www.festes.org/arxius/ginestaflornacional.pdf La ginesta, flor nacional de Catalunya]

File:Massif de genêts (Spartieum junceum).jpg|A stand of plants with many blooms, France

File:Spartium junceum2.jpg|Flowers

File:Fabaceae - Spartium junceum-003.JPG|Close-up of a flower

File:Spartium junceum6.jpg|Mature fruit

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Category:Genisteae

Category:Monotypic Fabaceae genera

Category:Flora of Western Asia

Category:Flora of North Africa

Category:Garden plants of Europe

Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

Category:Flora of the Mediterranean basin

Category:Plants described in 1753