Spartium junceum, known as Spanish broom,
Description
Spartium junceum is a vigorous,
deciduous shrub growing to tall, rarely , with main stems up to thick, rarely . It has thick, somewhat
Succulent plant grey-green
Juncus-like shoots with very sparse small deciduous
leaves long and up to broad. The leaves are of little importance to the plant, with much of the
photosynthesis occurring in the green shoots (a
water-conserving strategy in its dry climate). The leaves fall away early.
[ Jepson Manual Treatment] In late spring and summer shoots are covered in profuse fragrant yellow pea-like
1 to 2 cm across. In late summer, the
(
seed pods) mature black and reach long. They burst open, often with an audible crack, spreading seed from the parent plant.
Taxonomy
The Greek name
Spartium given to the genus denotes the use of the plant for 'cordage'.
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 and habitat
This species is
native plant to the Mediterranean in southern Europe, southwest Asia and northwest Africa,
where it is found in sunny sites, usually on dry, sandy soils.
As an invasive species
Spartium junceum has been widely introduced into other areas, and is regarded as a noxious
invasive species in places with a Mediterranean climate such as California and Oregon, Hawaii, central Chile, southeastern Australia,
the
Western Cape in South Africa and the Canary Islands and Azores.
[ US Forest Service Fire Ecology] It was first introduced to California as an
ornamental plant.
[ Element Stewardship: S. junceum]
Toxicity
Few cases have been described of intoxication by the
S. junceum, including accidental ingestion of different parts of the plant by children.
The alkaloids found in all parts of the plant have toxic effects. They initially provoke a transitory stimulation of nicotinic cholinergic receptors followed by a persistent inhibition caused by desensitization. The
sparteine has an effect of the heart, reducing its sensitivity and conductivity.
Symptoms present depending on dose, method of exposure, and time elapsed since exposure; these include irritation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa, hypersalivation, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea. In severe cases, neurological symptoms (such as midriasis, headaches, delirium and convulsions) may be present, as well as hypotension, bradycardia, and coma.
Uses
The plant is used as an ornamental plant in gardens and in landscape plantings. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
In Bolivia and Peru, where it is known as retama,
It has traditionally been used for the production of fiber, especially for tying vines. It is also used as a hedge because of its nitrogen-fixing quality. The plant is also used as a flavoring, and for its essential oil, known as genet absolute.[ botanical.com] The branches are used to make brooms.
Pharmacology
In work carried out on normoglycemic mice at the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of the Republic of Uruguay, the infusion of the flowers were proven to have
Hypoglycemia effects.
In Turkey, the flowers have been used in traditional medicine to treat ulcers; Turkish studies from 1999 and 2000 have identified a
saponin in the plant which has antiulcer properties.
Culture
Spartium junceum has made its way into the
ethnobotany of the indigenous
Aymara people and
Quechua people cultures, in which it is believed to protect against evil, probably influenced by similar traditions of Hispanic origin. In Peru, it is known as
retama,
qarwash,
inca pancara,
talhui.
The Peruvian huayno, Flor de Retama, written by Ricardo Dolorier in 1969, references the yellow flower and the Huanta massacre which occurred that year. Subsequently, all retama flowers were removed from the main plaza out of fear of government repression; today, the entrances to Huanta are planted with the flower.
Known in Catalan language as ginesta, it has been regarded as the national flower of Catalonia, sometimes in combination with red Poppy.[ La ginesta, flor nacional de Catalunya]
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