ulex

The greatest diversity of Ulex species is found in the Atlantic portion of the Iberian Peninsula, and most species have narrow distribution ranges. The most widespread species is the common gorse (Ulex europaeus): it's the only species native to much of western Europe, where it grows in sunny sites and usually on dry, sandy soils. It is also the largest species, reaching {{convert|2|-|3|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} in height; this compares with typically {{convert|20|-|40|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} heights for the western gorse (Ulex gallii). This latter species is characteristic of highly exposed Atlantic coastal heathland and montane habitats. In the eastern part of Great Britain, the dwarf furze (Ulex minor) replaces the western gorse. Ulex minor grows to a height of approximately {{convert|30|cm|in|0|abbr=on}}, a habit characteristic of sandy lowland heathlands.File:Fruiting Gorse - Flickr - Tatters ❀.jpg, Scotland]]

Common gorse flowers a little in late autumn and through the winter, coming into flower most strongly in spring. Western gorse and dwarf furze flower in late summer (August–September in Ireland and Great Britain). Between the different species, some gorse is nearly always in flower, hence the old country saying: "When gorse is out of blossom, kissing's out of fashion".{{cite web |title=When the gorse is out of bloom, kissing's out of fashion |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095901697 |publisher=Oxford Reference |access-date=26 December 2020}} Gorse flowers have a distinctive coconut-like scent, experienced very strongly by some individuals but only weakly by others.{{cite web|title=Gorse|url=http://www.plantlife.org.uk/wild_plants/plant_species/gorse/|publisher=Plantlife International|access-date=14 March 2011|archive-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718164929/http://www.plantlife.org.uk/wild_plants/plant_species/gorse/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Moore|first=Charles|title=Richard Mabey, a writer dropping down to see the natural world|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/charlesmoore/6240296/Richard-Mabey-a-writer-dropping-down-to-see-the-natural-world.html|access-date=14 March 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=28 September 2009}}

File:Whin or Gorse on Fife Coastal Trail.jpg

The genus comprises the following species:{{cite web | url = http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb?version~10.01&genus~Ulex&species~ | title = ILDIS LegumeWeb entry for Ulex | author = | website = International Legume Database & Information Service | publisher = Cardiff School of Computer Science & Informatics | access-date = 15 April 2014 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?12546 | title = GRIN species records of Ulex | author = USDA | author-link = USDA |author2=ARS |author2-link=Agricultural Research Service |author3= National Genetic Resources Program | website = Germplasm Resources Information Network—(GRIN) [Online Database] | publisher = National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland | access-date = 15 April 2014 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Leguminosae/Ulex/ | title = The Plant List entry for Ulex | date = 2013 | website = The Plant List | publisher = Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Missouri Botanical Garden | access-date = 15 April 2014 }}{{cite web | url = https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:23746-1#children | title = Plants of the World Online entry for Ulex | date = 2022 | website = Plants of the World Online | publisher = Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew| access-date = 27 October 2022 }}

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• Ulex argenteus Webb
• subsp. argenteus Webb
• subsp. subsericeus (Cout.) Rothm.

• Ulex australis Clemente
• subsp. australis
• subsp. welwitschianus (Planch.) Esp.Santo, Cubas, Lousã, C.Pardo & J.C.Costa
• Ulex baeticus Boiss.
• subsp. baeticus
• subsp. scaber (Kunze) Cubas

• Ulex borgiae Rivas Mart.

• Ulex canescens Lange
• Ulex cantabricus Alvarez & al.

• Ulex densus Webb
• Ulex erinaceus Welw. ex Webb
• Ulex eriocladus C.Vicioso

• Ulex europaeus L.—common gorse
• subsp. europaeus
• subsp. latebracteatus (Mariz) Rothm.

• Ulex gallii Planch.—western gorse or western furze

• Ulex jussiaei Webb

• Ulex micranthus Lange
• Ulex minor Roth—dwarf furze or dwarf gorse

• Ulex parviflorus Pourr.
• subsp. africanus (Webb) Greuter
• subsp. airensis (Esp.Santo, Cubas, Lousã, C.Pardo & J.C.Costa) Rivas Mart.
• subsp. parviflorus Pourr.
• subsp. rivasgodayanus Cubas

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The number of species is likely higher, as many subspecies are not closely related to one another or have large differences in ploidy.{{cite book |title=Advances in Legume Systematics part 10, Higher Level Systematics|last1=Ainouche|first1=Abdelkader|last2=Bayer|first2=Randall J.|last3=Cubas|first3=Paloma|last4=Misset|first4=Marie-Thérèse|year=2003|editor-last1= Klitgaard |editor-first1=B.B.|editor-last2= Bruneau |editor-first2=A.|chapter=Phylogenetic relationships within tribe Genisteae (Papilionoideae) with special reference to genus Ulex|publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|pages=239–252}}

{{cite bioRxiv |last1=Fonseca |first1=J.P. |last2=Pereira |first2=A. |last3=Robalo |first3=J.I. |last4=Neto |first4=C. |last5=Costa |first5=J.C. |date=20 January 2021 |title=Ribosomal DNA revealed an extensive role of allopolyploidy in the radiation of Ulex L. |biorxiv=10.1101/2021.01.20.427424}}

The status of the following species is unresolved:

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• Ulex eriophorus Gand.
• Ulex spicatus Gand.

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The following hybrids have been described:

• Ulex ×breoganii (Castrov. & Valdés Berm.) Castrov. & Valdés Berm. (U. europaeus × U. gallii)
• Ulex ×dalilae Capelo, J.C.Costa & Lousã (U. densus × U. jussiaei)
• Ulex ×lagrezii Rouy (U. europaeus × U. minor)

Gorse may grow as a fire-climax plant, well adapted to encourage and withstand fires, being highly flammable{{cite journal|author=Pausas|display-authors=etal |date=2011 |title=Fires enhance flammability in Ulex parviflorus |journal=New Phytologist |doi=10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03945.x |pmid=22039968 |volume=193 |issue=1 |pages=18–23|url=https://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/43267/3/New%20Phytologist%20193%281%29%2018.pdf |doi-access=free }} and having seed pods that are, to a large extent, opened by fire: thus allowing rapid regeneration after fire. The burnt stumps will readily sprout new growth from the roots. Where fire is excluded, gorse soon tends to be shaded out by taller-growing trees, unless other factors, such as exposure, also apply. Typical fire recurrence periods in gorse-stands are 5–20 years.

Gorse thrives in poor growing areas and conditions, including drought;{{Cite web|url=https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ulex+europaeus|title=Ulex europaeus Gorse, Common gorse PFAF Plant Database|website=pfaf.org}} it is sometimes found on very rocky soils,C. Michael Hogan (2008) [http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/11227/catto.html#fieldnotes "Catto Long Barrow field notes", The Modern Antiquarian] where many species cannot thrive. Moreover, it is widely used for land reclamation (e.g. mine tailings), where its nitrogen-fixing capacity helps other plants establish better.

Gorse is a valuable plant for wildlife, providing dense, thorny cover that's ideal for protecting bird nests. In Britain, France and Ireland, it is particularly noted for supporting Dartford warblers (Sylvia undata) and European stonechats (Saxicola rubicola); the common name of the whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) attests to its close association with gorse. The flowers are sometimes eaten by the caterpillars of the double-striped pug moth (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata), whilst those of the case-bearer moth Coleophora albicosta feed exclusively on gorse. The dry wood of dead gorse stems provides food for the caterpillars of the concealer moth Batia lambdella.

File:Ulex landscape.JPG in Southern Chile]]

{{See also|Gorse in New Zealand|Biological control of gorse in New Zealand}}

In many areas of North America (notably California and Oregon), southern South America, Australia, New Zealand, the Falkland Islands,{{Cite web |url= https://www.nonnativespecies.org/overseas-territories/territory-pages/falkland-islands/|title= Falkland Islands|author= |date= |website= GB Non-Native Species Secretariat|publisher= |access-date= 2024-12-04|quote=}} and Hawaii, the common gorse—originally introduced as an ornamental plant or hedge—has become an invasive species owing to its aggressive seed dispersal; it has proved very difficult to eradicate and detrimental to native habitats. Common gorse is also an invasive species in the montane grasslands of Horton Plains National Park in Sri Lanka.Lalith Gunasekera, Invasive Plants: A guide to the identification of the most invasive plants of Sri Lanka, Colombo 2009, pp. 88–89.

File:Controlling gorse on Dartmoor 752.jpg, England]]

Gorse readily becomes a dominant plant in suitable conditions. Where this is undesirable for agricultural or ecological reasons, control is required either to remove gorse completely, or to limit its extent. Gorse-stands are often managed by regular burning or flailing, allowing them to regrow from stumps or seed. Denser areas of gorse may be bulldozed.

File:Whinstonedalgarven.JPG, Scotland, used to crush whin for use as winter feed for cattle]]

Gorse flowers are edible and can be used in salads, teas and to make a non-grape-based fruit wine.{{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=John |title=How to make gorse wine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/mar/14/how-to-make-gorse-wine |website=The Guardian |access-date=5 April 2024 |date=14 March 2012}}

As fodder, gorse is high in protein{{cite web |last1=Carrington |first1=Damian |title=Protein from gorse bushes could feed millions of people, says expert |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/10/protein-from-gorse-bushes-could-feed-millions-of-people-says-expert |website=The Guardian |access-date=5 April 2024 |date=10 January 2022}} and may be used as feed for livestock, particularly in winter, when other greenstuff is not available. Traditionally, it was used as fodder for horses and cattle,{{cite web |title=Gorse as horse fodder {{!}} Plant-Lore |url=https://www.plant-lore.com/plantofthemonth/gorse-as-cattle-fodder/ |website=www.plant-lore.com |access-date=5 April 2024}} being made palatable either by bruising (crushing) with hand-held mallets, grinding it to a moss-like consistency with hand- or water-driven mills, or being finely chopped and mixed with straw chaff.{{cite journal |last1=Rymer |first1=Leslie |title=Ethnobotany and Native Distribution of Gorse (Ulex europaeus L.) in Britain |journal=Environmental Conservation |date=1979 |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=211–213 |doi=10.1017/S0376892900003064 |jstor=44516992 |bibcode=1979EnvCo...6..211R |s2cid=86141271 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44516992 |access-date=12 January 2022 |issn=0376-8929|url-access=subscription }} Gorse is also eaten as forage by some livestock, such as feral ponies, which may eat little else in winter. Ponies may also eat the thinner stems of burnt gorse.

Gorse-bushes are highly flammable; in many areas, bundles of gorse were used to fire traditional bread ovens.{{cite web|url=http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/Environment/Archaeology/EducationAndOutreach/Experimental+Archaeology+Site+at+Tunstall.htm|title=Experimental Archaeology Site at Tunstall|publisher=Suffolk County Council|quote=We have tried different woods as fuel to see which is most efficient and our favourite is dead gorse, collected locally and a dominant species on the sandy soils in this area. Analysis of woods used in the Roman salt industry that took place on the estuary a mile away shows they were using the same fuel.|access-date=2010-06-30|archive-date=2012-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308152302/http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/Environment/Archaeology/EducationAndOutreach/Experimental+Archaeology+Site+at+Tunstall.htm|url-status=dead}}

On the island of Guernsey, Channel Islands, many traditional farms had furze brakes. The prolific gorse and bracken would be cut, dried and stored to be used as fuel, with farmhouses having purpose-built furze (clome or cloam) ovens.{{cite web |url=http://guernseypress.com/news/property/2012/04/19/out-in-the-fields-of-gold/ |title=Out in the fields of gold |publisher=Guernsey press |date=19 April 2012}}{{cite web |url=https://guernseygoasdoue.wordpress.com/les-prevosts-farm/ |title=Les Prevosts farm |publisher=guernseygoasdoue|date=2015-01-24 }}

Gorse wood has been used to make small objects; being non-toxic, it is especially suited for cutlery. In spite of its durability, it is not used for construction because the plant is too small and its wood is unstable, being prone to warping. Gorse is useful for garden ornaments, because it is resistant to weather and rot.

File:Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus) flowers close up T2i IMG 101 0837 NR edit.JPG

Gorse has been listed as one of the 38 plants that are used to prepare Bach flower remedies,{{cite book|author=DS Vohra|title=Bach Flower Remedies: A Comprehensive Study|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=icG8onA0ys8C&pg=PR3|access-date=2 September 2013|date=1 June 2004|publisher=B. Jain Publishers|isbn=978-81-7021-271-3|page=3}} a kind of alternative medicine.

File:Dartmoor ponies sheltering behind gorse.jpg sheltering behind furze]]

The furze is the badge of the Sinclair and MacLennan clans of Scotland.

The flower, known as chorima in the Galician language, is the national flower of Galicia in northwest Spain.

The gorse is also the emblem of Brittany and is regaining popularity in Cornwall, particularly on St Piran's Day.

The flammability of gorse rendered it a symbol for things that were quick to catch fire and burn out; for example, Doyle, in his book Sir Nigel, has Sir John Chandos say: "They flare up like a furzebush in the flames, but if for a short space you may abide the heat of it, then there is a chance that it may be cooler ... If the Welsh be like the furze fire, then, pardieu! the Scotch are the peat, for they will smolder and you will never come to the end of them."Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan (1906). Sir Nigel. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

In many parts of Britain, especially Devon and Cornwall, where it is particularly prevalent on the moors, the expression "kissing's out of fashion when the gorse is out of blossom"{{cite web|url=http://www.plant-lore.com/plantofthemonth/kissings-in-fashion/|website=plant-lore.com|title=Kissing's in fashion …|date=31 December 2014 }} is a traditional jest, as common gorse is thought to be always in bloom. Sprigs of gorse—or rather, furze, as it was usually known in the West Country—were a traditional gift between young lovers on May Day, when the blossom is at its peak.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Ulex}}
• {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Furze}}
• [http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/g/gorgol31.html 'A Modern Herbal' (Grieves 1931)]

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Category:Fabaceae genera

Category:Edible plants

Category:Invasive plant species in Sri Lanka

Category:Medicinal plants

Category:Nitrogen-fixing crops

Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus