| Ulex | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Gorse in full flower at Dalgarven Mill inScotland. | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Tribe: | Genisteae |
| Genus: | Ulex L. |
| Species | |
11–58; see text | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Genista-spartiumDuhamel (1755) | |
Ulex (commonly known asgorse,furze, orwhin) is agenus offlowering plants in thefamily Fabaceae. The genus comprises about 20species ofthornyevergreenshrubs in the subfamilyFaboideae of the pea familyFabaceae. The species are native to parts of western Europe andnorthwest Africa, with the majority of species inIberia.
Gorse is closely related to thebrooms, and like them, it has green stems, very small leaves and is adapted to dry growing conditions. However, it differs from the brooms in its extreme thorniness, theshoots being modified into branchedthorns 1–4 centimetres (1⁄2–1+1⁄2 inches) long, which almost wholly replace the leaves as the plant's functioningphotosynthetic organs. Theleaves of young plants aretrifoliate, but in mature plants, they are reduced to scales or smallspines.[2] All the species have yellow flowers, generally showy, some with a very long flowering season.
The greatest diversity ofUlex species is found in the Atlantic portion of theIberian Peninsula, and most species have narrow distribution ranges. The most widespread species is the common gorse (Ulex europaeus): it's the only species native to much of western Europe, where it grows in sunny sites and usually on dry, sandy soils. It is also the largest species, reaching 2–3 m (7–10 ft) in height; this compares with typically 20–40 cm (8–16 in) heights for the western gorse (Ulex gallii). This latter species is characteristic of highly exposedAtlantic coastalheathland and montane habitats. In the eastern part of Great Britain, the dwarf furze (Ulex minor) replaces the western gorse.Ulex minor grows to a height of approximately 30 cm (12 in), ahabit characteristic of sandy lowland heathlands.
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 nearly always in flower, hence the old country saying: "When gorse is out of blossom, kissing's out of fashion".[3] Gorse flowers have a distinctive coconut-like scent, experienced very strongly by some individuals but only weakly by others.[4][5]
The genus comprises the following species:[6][7][8][9]
The number of species is likely higher, as many subspecies are not closely related to one another or have large differences inploidy.[10][11]
The status of the following species is unresolved:[8]
The following hybrids have been described:[9]
Gorse may grow as afire-climax plant, well adapted to encourage and withstand fires, being highly flammable[12] and having seed pods that are, to a large extent, opened by fire: thus allowing rapid regeneration after fire. The burnt stumps will readily sprout new growth from the roots. Where fire is excluded, gorse soon tends to be shaded out by taller-growing trees, unless other factors, such as exposure, also apply. Typical fire recurrence periods in gorse-stands are 5–20 years.
Gorse thrives in poor growing areas and conditions, including drought;[13] it is sometimes found on very rocky soils,[14] where many species cannot thrive. Moreover, it is widely used for land reclamation (e.g. mine tailings), where itsnitrogen-fixing capacity helps other plants establish better.
Gorse is a valuable plant for wildlife, providing dense, thorny cover that's ideal for protecting bird nests. In Britain, France and Ireland, it is particularly noted for supportingDartford warblers (Sylvia undata) andEuropean stonechats (Saxicola rubicola); the common name of thewhinchat (Saxicola rubetra) attests to its close association with gorse. The flowers are sometimes eaten by thecaterpillars of thedouble-striped pugmoth (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata), whilst those of thecase-bearer mothColeophora albicosta feed exclusively on gorse. The dry wood of dead gorse stems provides food for the caterpillars of theconcealer mothBatia lambdella.
In many areas of North America (notably California and Oregon), southern South America, Australia, New Zealand, the Falkland Islands,[15] and Hawaii, the common gorse—originally introduced as an ornamental plant or hedge—has become aninvasive species owing to its aggressive seed dispersal; it has proved very difficult to eradicate and detrimental to nativehabitats. Common gorse is also an invasive species in the montane grasslands ofHorton Plains National Park in Sri Lanka.[16]
Gorse readily becomes a dominant plant in suitable conditions. Where this is undesirable for agricultural or ecological reasons, control is required either to remove gorse completely, or to limit its extent. Gorse-stands are often managed by regular burning or flailing, allowing them to regrow from stumps or seed. Denser areas of gorse may be bulldozed.
Gorse flowers are edible and can be used in salads, teas and to make a non-grape-basedfruit wine.[17]
As fodder, gorse is high in protein[18] and may be used as feed for livestock, particularly in winter, when other greenstuff is not available. Traditionally, it was used as fodder for horses and cattle,[19] being made palatable either by bruising (crushing) with hand-held mallets, grinding it to a moss-like consistency with hand- or water-driven mills, or being finely chopped and mixed with straw chaff.[20] Gorse is also eaten asforage by some livestock, such as feral ponies, which may eat little else in winter. Ponies may also eat the thinner stems of burnt gorse.
Gorse-bushes are highly flammable; in many areas, bundles of gorse were used to fire traditional bread ovens.[21]
On the island ofGuernsey,Channel Islands, many traditional farms hadfurze brakes. The prolific gorse and bracken would be cut, dried and stored to be used as fuel, with farmhouses having purpose-built furze ovens.[22][23]
Gorse wood has been used to make small objects; being non-toxic, it is especially suited for cutlery. In spite of its durability, it is not used for construction because the plant is too small and its wood is unstable, being prone to warping. Gorse is useful for garden ornaments, because it is resistant to weather and rot.
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Gorse has been listed as one of the 38 plants that are used to prepareBach flower remedies,[24] a kind ofalternative medicine.
The furze is the badge of theSinclair andMacLennan clans of Scotland. The flower, known aschorima in theGalician language, is the national flower ofGalicia in northwest Spain.
The gorse is also the emblem ofBrittany and is regaining popularity inCornwall, particularly onSt Piran's Day.
The flammability of gorse rendered it a symbol for things that were quick to catch fire and burn out; for example,Doyle, in his bookSir Nigel, has SirJohn Chandos say: "They flare up like a furzebush in the flames, but if for a short space you may abide the heat of it, then there is a chance that it may be cooler ... If the Welsh be like the furze fire, then, pardieu! the Scotch are the peat, for they will smolder and you will never come to the end of them."[25]
In many parts of Britain, especiallyDevon andCornwall, where it is particularly prevalent on themoors, the expression "kissing's out of fashion when the gorse is out of blossom"[26] is a traditional jest, as common gorse is thought to be always in bloom. Sprigs of gorse—or rather, furze, as it was usually known in the West Country—were a traditional gift between young lovers on May Day, when the blossom is at its peak.
We have tried different woods as fuel to see which is most efficient and our favourite is dead gorse, collected locally and a dominant species on the sandy soils in this area. Analysis of woods used in the Roman salt industry that took place on the estuary a mile away shows they were using the same fuel.
Media related toUlex at Wikimedia CommonsAuthority control databases: National |
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