Small-flowered Gorse

Ulex parviflorus

Ulex parviflorus Pourr. (Fabaceae) is a thorny perennial shrub that, in mature stages, retains a high proportion of dead biomass in the plant, giving it a high flammability (Baeza et al., 2011). Post-fire regeneration is exclusively by seedling recruitment (i.e. it lacks the ability to resprout; Paula et al., 2009).
Yellow flowering gorse This is one of the few flowers I have found in the woods this winter... Europe,Flora,Geotagged,Macro,Portugal,Ulex parviflorus,Winter,flower,yellow

Appearance

Seeds have physical dormancy and form a persistent soil seed bank. The heat produced during a fire breaks seed dormancy and stimulates germination in post-fire conditions (Baeza & Vallejo, 2006; Paula et al., 2009; Moreira et al., 2010). However, U. parviflorus also recruits in the absence of fire, in open spaces such as old fields (Baeza et al., 2011).
Aliaga - Ulex parviflorus Puig Campana, Finestrat, Alicante, Spain (Nov 2013). Is a spiny shrub from the Fabaceae family that can reach until 2 m in height. Its flowers appear in the winter and are bright yellow. Very common in the mountains of Alicante. http://www.apatita.com/herbario/Leguminosae/Ulex_parviflorus_subsp_parviflorus.html Fall,Geotagged,Spain,Ulex parviflorus

Naming

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.
Small-flowered Gorse - Ulex parviflorus Cabo de San Antonio, Javea, Alicante. Geotagged,Small-flowered Gorse,Spain,Spring,Ulex parviflorus

Distribution

Western Mediterranean and North Africa.

References:

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03945.x/pdf
Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionAngiosperms
ClassEudicots
OrderFabales
FamilyFabaceae
GenusUlex
SpeciesUlex parviflorus
Photographed in
Spain
Portugal