94,129
edits
Changes
no edit summary
{{SPlantbox
| latin_name = ''LATINNAME'' <!--- replace LATINNAME with the actual latin name -->
|familia=Fabaceae
| common_names = <!--- if multiple, list all, if none, leave blank -->
|genus=Ulex
| growth_habit = ? <!--- tree, shrub, herbaceous, vine, etc -->
|common_name=Gorse, furze, furse, whin
|lifespan=perennial
|features=flowers, fragrance, naturalizes, invasive, drought tolerant
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
| lifespan = <!--- perennial, annual, etc -->
|image=Whin or Gorse.JPG
|image_width=240
| features = <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->
| hardiness = <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->
| bloom = <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->
| image = Upload.png <!--- Freesia.jpg -->
| image_width = 240px <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
}}
}}
'''Gorse''', '''furze''', '''furse''' or '''whin''' ('''''Ulex''''') is a [[genus]] of about 20 species of spiny [[evergreen]] [[shrub]]s in the subfamily [[Faboideae]] of the pea family [[Fabaceae]], native to western [[Europe]] and northwest [[Africa]], with the majority of species in [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberia]].
Gorse is closely related to the [[Broom (shrub)|brooms]], and like them, has green stems and very small leaves and is adapted to dry growing conditions. However it differs in its extreme spininess, with the [[shoot]]s being modified into branched [[spine (botany)|spine]]s {{Convert|1|-|4|cm|in}} long, which almost wholly replace the leaves as the plant's functioning [[photosynthesis|photosynthetic]] organs. The [[leaf|leaves]] of young plants are [[trifoliate]], but are later reduced to scales or small spines.<ref>A R Clapham, T G Tutin, E F Warburg, ''Flora of the British Isles'', Cambridge, 1962, p 331</ref> All the species have yellow flowers, some with a very long flowering season.
The most widely familiar species is Common Gorse (''[[Ulex europaeus]]''), the only species native to much of western [[Europe]], where it grows in sunny sites, usually on dry, sandy soils. It is also the largest species, reaching {{Convert|2|-|3|m|ft|sigfig=1}} in height; this compares with typically {{Convert|20|-|40|cm|in}} for Western Gorse (''[[Ulex gallii]]''). This latter species is characteristic of highly exposed [[Atlantic (ocean)|Atlantic]] coastal [[Heath (habitat)|heathland]] and montane habitats. Western gorse is replaced in the eastern part of Great Britain by Dwarf Furze (''[[Ulex minor]]''), a plant about {{Convert|30|cm|in}} tall, characteristic of sandy lowland [[Heath (habitat)|heathland]].
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|Britain]]). Between the different species, some gorse is almost always in flower.
Gorse thrives in poor growing areas and conditions including drought;<ref>[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Ulex+europaeus Plants for a Future, database entry for ''Ulex europaeus'']</ref> it is sometimes found on very rocky soils,<ref>C. Michael Hogan (2008) [http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/11227/catto.html#fieldnotes ''Catto Long Barrow fieldnotes'', The Modern Antiquarian]</ref> where many species cannot thrive. Moreover, it is widely used for land reclamation (e.g., mine tailings), where its [[nitrogen fixation|nitrogen-fixing]] capacity helps other plants establish better.
In many areas Common Gorse has become naturalised and an [[invasive species|invasive]] [[weed]] due to its aggressive seed dispersal; it has proved very difficult to eradicate.
Gorse readily becomes dominant in suitable conditions, and 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 [[combustion|burning]] or [[Mower#Flail mower|flail]]ing, allowing them to regrow from stumps or seed. Denser areas of gorse may be [[bulldozer|bulldozed]].
Gorse flowers are edible and can be used in salads, tea and to make a non-grape-based "[[wine]]".
Gorse bushes are highly flammable.
{{Inc|
{{Inc|
Ulex (ancient Latin name of this or a similar plant). Leguminosae. Furze. Gorse. Whin. Ornamental woody plants grown for their handsome yellow flowers and evergreen appearance.
Ulex (ancient Latin name of this or a similar plant). Leguminosae. Furze. Gorse. Whin. Ornamental woody plants grown for their handsome yellow flowers and evergreen appearance.
==Species==
==Species==
<!-- This section should be renamed Cultivars if it appears on a page for a species (rather than genus), or perhaps Varieties if there is a mix of cultivars, species, hybrids, etc -->
Species{{wp}}<br>
''Ulex argenteus''<br/>
''Ulex boivinii'' <br/>
''Ulex borgiae''<br/>
''Ulex cantabricus''<br/>
''Ulex densus''<br/>
''Ulex europaeus'' - [[Common Gorse]]<br/>
''[[Ulex gallii]]'' - Western Gorse or Western Furze<br/>
''Ulex genistoides'' <br/>
''Ulex micranthus''<br/>
''[[Ulex minor]]'' - Dwarf Furze or Dwarf Gorse<br/>
''Ulex parviflorus''
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{stub}}
{{stub}}
__NOTOC__