Appearance
"S. junceum" is a vigorous, deciduous shrub growing to 2–4 m tall, rarely 5 m, with main stems up to 5 cm thick, rarely 10 cm. It has thick, somewhat succulent grey-green rush-like shoots with very sparse small deciduous leaves 1 to 3 cm long and up to 4 mm broad.The leaves are of little importance to the plant, with much of the photosynthesis occurring in the green shoots. The leaves fall away early. In late spring and summer shoots are covered in profuse fragrant yellow pea-like flowers 1 to 2 cm across. In late summer, the legumes mature black and reach 8–10 cm long. They burst open, often with an audible crack, spreading seed from the parent plant.
Naming
The Latin specific epithet "junceum" means "rush-like", referring to the shoots, which show a passing resemblance to those of the rush genus "Juncus".
Distribution
This species is native to the Mediterranean in southern Europe, southwest Asia and northwest Africa, where it is found in sunny sites, usually on dry, sandy soils.References:
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