Genista L.

Key to species

1 Plants unarmed, stipular organs rarely with 2 spinescent stipules 2

1 Plants with spiny stems and branches 16

2 Leaves all trifoliolate 3

2 Leaves unifoliolate, sometimes some trifoliolate 6

3 Inflorescence with 2-4(5) flowers; pod 10-15 × c. 4 mm; leaves promptly caducous, almost always missing Genista clavata

3 Inflorescence racemiform, umbelliform or corymbiform; seeds with an aril 4

4 Leaves with linear or narrowly elliptical leaflets, more than 5 times longer than wide, with revolute margins Genista linifolia

4 Leaves with ovate-oblong, obovate-oblong or obovate leaflets, less than 5 times longer than wide, flat 5

5 Calyx 5-8 mm; corolla with standard 13-16.5 mm, glabrous Genista monspessulana

5 Calyx 13-14 mm; corolla with standard 15-18 mm, hairy on the dorsal side Genista osmarensis

6 Flowers in capituliform inflorescences 7

6 Flowers solitary or in racemiform or spiciform inflorescences 11

7 Stipular organ with 2 spinescent stipules; vilous calyx 8

7 Stipular organ without spinescent stipules; sericeous calyx 9

8 Leaflets (6)10-20 mm; inflorescence with 5-20 flowers Genista cephalantha

8 Leaflets 6-8 mm; inflorescence with 4-10 flowers Genista microcephala

9 Pod ovoid, with 1-2 seeds Genista capitellata

9 Pod linear-oblong, with 1-5 seeds 10

10 Inflorescence with 5-13(20) flowers; pod 15-24 × 4-6 mm; at least some leaves almost always present Genista umbellata

10 Inflorescencia con 2-4(5) flores; legumbre 10-15 × c 4 mm; hojas prontamente caedizas, que casi siempre faltan Genista quadriflora

11 Pod ovoid-acuminate, slightly longer than the cup, with 1-2 seeds 12

11 Pod linear-oblong, much longer than the calyx, with 3 -6 seeds 13

12 Leaves unifoliolate; inflorescences racemiform, axillary, on stems of the previous year Genista spartioides

12 Leaves unifoliolate and trifoliolate; inflorescences racemiform, terminal Genista numidica

13 Shrublet creeping, up to 35 cm in height, branched irregularly; inflorescences racemiform terminal, on stems from the current year Genista pseudopilosa

13 Shrub upright and broom-like, usually more than 1 m in height,branched regularly; inflorescences racemiform, terminal, or solitary flowers, geminate or in fascicles inserted at the stipularorgans of the previous year 14

14 Adult leaves with leaflets sericeous on both sides Genista florida

14 Adult leaves with leaflets glabrous on the upper side and sericeous on the underside 15

15 Standard glabrous or with a line of hairs along the dorsal side of the midrib; calyx sericeous Genista cinerea

15 Standard hairy on the lower half of the lamina and along the dorsal side of the midrib; calyx sericeous or villous Genista ramosissima

16 Pod linear-oblong, much longer than the calyx, always with more than 3 seeds 17

16 Pod ovoid, slightly longer than calyx, with 1-2 seeds 24

17 Shrub creeping, height below 30 cm from the ground; all leaves unifoliolate Genista carpetana

17 Shrub upright, usually more than 50 cm in height; leaves all trifoliolate or unifoliolate and trifoliolate on the same plant, rarely all unifoliolate 18

18 Inflorescences umbelliform or capituliform, axillary; leaves trifoliolate; seeds with an aril Genista segonnei

18 Flowers solitary or in racemiform inflorescences, terminal or axillary;leaves all unifoliolate or unifoliolate and trifoliolate on the same plant, rarely all trifoliolate; seeds without an aril 19

19 Pods inflated, cylindrical, with convex valves Genista ancistrocarpa

19 Pods compressed, with valves ± flattened, sometimes somewhat torulose 20

20 Shrub with branches ending on a spiny tip, without axillary spines 21

20 Shrub with axillary spines, usually recurved, simple or branched, derived from the lateral branches 22

21 Leaves unifoliolate and trifoliolate on the same plant, with leaflets 3-15 mm; flowers usually in groups of 2-4, with pedicel up to 7 mm; calyx 7-8 mm Genista aspalathoides

21 Leaves unifoliolate, with leaflets 1-5 mm; flowers solitary or rarely geminate, with pedicel 4-15 mm; calyx 3-6 mm Genista lobelii pp

22 Leaves unifoliolate and trifoliolate on the same plant Genista ferox

22 All leaves unifoliolate 23

23 Ovary and pods glabrous Genista scorpius

23 Ovary and pods hairy Genista tamarrutii

24 Shrub with branches ending on a spiny tip, without axillary spines 25

24 Shrub with axillary spines, usually recurved, simple or branched, derived from the lateral branches 26

25 Leaves unifoliolate; branches alternate Genista lobelii pp

25 Leaves trifoliolate; branches opposite Genista acanthoclada

26 All or most of the leaves with at least 2 developed leaflets 27

26 Leaves unifoliolate, sometimes with 1 central developed leaflet and 2 lateral leaflets transformed into spiny appendages, like stipules 29

27 Calyx teeth ending in a spine Genista spinulosa

27 Calyx teeth not spinescent 28

28 Stems with 4-5 longitudinal ribs; spine; leaves without spiny appendages at the base Genista triacanthos

28 Stems with 5-8 longitudinal ribs; inflorescence axis ending spine; at least some leaves with the central leaflet developed and the 2 lateralleaflets transformed into spiny appendages, like stipules Genista tridens pp

29 All leaves unifoliolate, without spiny lateral appendages; the inflorescence axis not extended into a spine 31

29 All leaves with only the central leaflet developed and the 2 lateral leaflets transformed into small spiny appendages, like stipules; the inflorescence axis extended into a rigid spine 30

30 Young branchlets, floral pedicel and calyx sericeous Genista tricuspidata

30 Young branchlets, floral pedicel and calyx nearly or totally glabrous Genista tridens pp

31 Floral pedicel with bracteoles c. 1 mm long, linear, inserted halfway Genista tournefortii

31 Floral pedicel with bracteoles 2.5-5 mm long, elliptical, inserted towards the apex, below the calyx 32

32 Corolla yellow, with standard sericeous or villous on the dorsal side Genista hirsuta

32 Corolla yellowish-orange, with glabrous standard Genista ulicina