Genus name comes from the Greek word kytisos used by the Greeks for several kinds of woody legumes. Although admired for its yellow blooms, the Scotch broom shrub has become an invasive species. Plants have generally proved to be less aggressive in the East than in the West where they are listed in several states as invasive weeds. Over time, it has escaped gardens and naturalized in the East, far West and Hawaii. in the early 1800s as an ornamental shrub and for erosion control use. Common broom is native to central and southern Europe. This shrub fixes nitrogen on root nodules. Pods mature to brown/black in fall and will snap open when ripe, explosively ejecting seeds several yards away. Fruit is a flattened, pea-like, green seed pod (to 2" long) with hairy margins. The green branches are sharply angled with five green ridges, and they are hairy when young and without hairs as they mature. The pea pod legume is flat, has several seeds. Scotch broom is a bushy, drought-deciduous shrub that grows three to six feet tall. Yellow flowers are irregularly-shaped, solitary or in pairs, and have 5 petals. The leaves are mostly composed of three smaller, pointed leaflets. The many green branches are woody, slender, and stiff. Fragrant, sweet pea-shaped, bright yellow flowers (to 1" long) appear in late spring in an often showy bloom. Scots broom is a perennial member of the pea family. Green-ribbed branches are sparsely clad (but are often leafless), with small, alfalfa-like, trifoliate leaves (with 1/2" long leaflets). A wineglassful is taken three or four times a day. When cold, the decoction is strained and a small quantity of cayenne added. None, other than humans who try to eradicate it.Cytisus scoparius, commonly called common broom or Scotch broom, is a multi-stemmed, deciduous/evergreen shrub that grows 4-8' tall and features generally upright, broom-like, slender green branching and bright yellow flowers. of Dandelion Roots are boiled in one pint of water down to half a pint, adding towards the last, 1/2 oz. The seeds and flowers contain several toxic alkaloids and should not be eaten. I knew that Scotch broom was a real problem plant. And they remain viable in the soil for up to 60 years. Each plant produces up to 10,000 seeds per plant. I found that it was Scotch broom pods, popping open and spewing their seeds in all directions. As the seeds can be carried by moving water new plants are often scattered around aquatic areas. One day as it warmed I noticed a popping sound. Scotch broom grows primarily in open, dry meadows and along roadsides. Seeds can be carried by animals, machinery, and people as they walk through the fields where this weed is established. The 1/8” long, dark green seeds have very hard seed coats which enable them to survive as many as 80 years before germinating. On warm days these pods open and release the seeds within. In the fall these flowers give rise to small pea pods which ripen black. Yellow flowers, which bloom from May-June are 3/4” long and pea shaped and strongly scented. The leaves are arranged in a simple or trifoliate arrangement and are un-toothed. It bears branched stems which are green and ridged with long division bearing small alternate leaves. Scotch broom is a deciduous shrub that grows to a height of up to 10’ and nearly as wide. It has no spread from British Columbia south into California. It was introduced into the Pacific Northwest as an ornamental, and was used to stabilize eroded areas. In Washington State it is un-lawful to transport, buy or sell all parts of this plant. Description Scotch broom is considered a noxious weed in the Pacific Northwest as it outgrows all other vegetation.
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