Ulex

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 2 - in height; this compares with typically 20 - for 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 dwarf furze (Ulex minor) replaces western gorse. Ulex minor grows only about 30 cm tall, a habit characteristic of sandy lowland heathland. In full flower at Dalgarven Mill in Scotland. Fruiting at Mallaig, 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 almost always in flower, hence the old country saying: "When gorse is out of blossom, kissing's out of fashion". Gorse flowers have a distinctive coconut scent, experienced very strongly by some individuals but weakly by others. Species list Ulex comprises the following species: Ulex argenteus Webb subsp. argenteus Webb subsp. erinaceus (Webb) D.A.Webb Ulex borgiae Rivas Mart. Ulex breoganii (Castroviejo & Valdes-Bermejo) Castrovioejo & Valdes-Bermejo. Ulex cantabricus Alvarez & al. Ulex densus Webb Ulex europaeus L.—common gorse Ulex gallii Planch.—western gorse or western furze Ulex micranthus Lange Ulex minor Roth—dwarf furze or dwarf gorse Ulex parviflorus Pourr. subsp. africanus (Webb) Greuter subsp. eriocladus (C.Vicioso) D.A.Webb subsp. funkii (Webb) Guinea subsp. jussiaei (Webb) D.A.Webb subsp. parviflorus Pourr. Ulex salzmanni (Webb) Willk. Species names with uncertain taxonomic status The status of the following species is unresolved: Ulex airensis Esp.Santo et al. Ulex autumnalis Thore Ulex baicheri Rouy Ulex boivini Cosson ex Nyman Ulex boivini Webb Ulex bonnieri Hy Ulex bovini Welw. ex Webb Ulex bovini Willk. Ulex ceballosi Pau Ulex ceballosii (Vicioso) Pau Ulex congestus Pau Ulex ericetarum Pourr. ex Willk. & Lange Ulex ericetorum Pourr. ex Willk. & Lange Ulex eriophorus Gand. Ulex flahaulti Hy Ulex funkii Webb Ulex grandiflorus Pourr. Ulex hispanicus auct. Ulex hispanicus Pourr. ex Willk. & Lange Ulex ianthocladus Webb Ulex intermedius Le Gall Ulex lagrezii Rouy Ulex lanuginosus Pourr. ex Willk. & Lange Ulex latebracteatus (Mariz) Rivas Mart., T.E.Díaz & Fern.Prieto Ulex lucidus Willk. Ulex mauritii Sennen Ulex mauritii Sennen & Mauricio Ulex maximilianii Sennen & Mauricio Ulex megalorites Willk. Ulex microclada Sennen Ulex microclada Sennen & Mauricio Ulex mitis G.Don Ulex narcissi Sennen Ulex provincialis Le Gall Ulex provinicialis Loisel. Ulex revurvatus Willk. Ulex richteri Rouy Ulex rivasgodayanus (Cubas) Cabezudo & Pérez Lat. Ulex salzmannii Willk. Ulex sparsiflorus Lange Ulex spicatus Gand. Ulex subsericeus (Cout.) Rivas Mart., T.E.Díaz & Fern.Gonz. Ulex tazensis (Braun-Blanq. & Maire) Pau & Font Quer Ulex vicentinus (Daveau) Castro Ulex vidali Pau Ulex vidalii Pau Ulex willkommii Webb Hybrids The following hybrids have been described: Ulex ×flahaultii Hy Ulex ×gonnetii Hy

No narrative description available for this taxon yet.