Ulex L.
Traditionally only 2 species of this genus have been considered with a distribution in North Africa. But after the revision of the genus made by Cubas in 1984 and a subsequent contribution (Rivas-Martinez, 1986), 4 further species were thought to be distributed in northern Morocco (U. canescens Lange, U. eriocladus C. Vicioso, U. borgiae Rivas-Mart. y U. australis Clemente). However, the differences between them were so subtle that today only the traditional 2 species are considered.
Cubas, P. 1984. Estudio taxonómico de los géneros Ulex L. y Stauracanthus Link en la Península ibérica. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Madrid. 284 pp.
Cubas, P., Tahiri, H. & Pardo, C. 2005. Genetic variation and relationships among Ulex (Fabaceae) species in southern Spain and northern Morocco. Amer. J. Bot. 92(12): 2031-2043 (2005).
Rivas Martínez, S. 1986. Notas breves. 186 U. borgiae Rivas Martínez sp. nova. Lagascalia 14(1): 140-141.
Key to species
1 Shrub erect, with extended branches and usually erect-patent, up to 2 m in height. Primary spines up to 3 cm and secondary spines less than 1 cm. Flowers with calyx 7-10 mm, villous-silky, with short very applied hairs Ulex parviflorus
1 Subshrub up to 0.8(1) m in height, hemispherical. Primary spines ± the same length than the secondary spines. Flowers with calyx 10-14 mm long, with hairs only slightly applied Ulex baeticus
Updated by: H. Sainz.