Chamaecytisus hirsutus

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Chamaecytisus hirsutus
Fabaceae - Chamaecytisus hirsutus-1.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Chamaecytisus
Species:
C. hirsutus
Binomial name
Chamaecytisus hirsutus
L.
Synonyms [1]
List
    • Chamaecytisus ciliatus(Wahlenb.) Rothm.
    • Chamaecytisus hirsutissimus(K.Koch) Czerep.
    • Chamaecytisus hirsutus(L.) Link
    • Chamaecytisus leucotrichus(Schur) Czerep.
    • Chamaecytisus polytrichus(M.Bieb.) Rothm.
    • Chamaecytisus proteus(Zum.) Holub
    • Chamaecytisus supinus(L.) Link
    • Cytisus aggregatusSchur
    • Cytisus alpestrisSchur
    • Cytisus capitatusScop.
    • Cytisus ciliatusWahlenb.
    • Cytisus colchicusAlbov
    • Cytisus falcatusWaldst. & Kit.
    • Cytisus gallicusA.Kern.
    • Cytisus hirsutissimusK.Koch
    • Cytisus leucotrichus(Schur) Schur
    • Cytisus polytrichusM.Bieb.
    • Cytisus prostratusScop.
    • Cytisus proteusZum.
    • Cytisus pumilusDe Not.
    • Cytisus supinusL.
    • Genista capitata(Scop.) Scheele
    • Genista supina(L.) Scheele

Chamaecytisus hirsutus (clustered broom or hairy broom) is a perennial plant belonging to the genus Chamaecytisus of the family Fabaceae.

Contents

Description

Chamaecytisus hirsutus reaches on average 30–40 centimetres (12–16 in) of height, with a maximum height of about 100 centimetres (39 in). The stem is more or less ascendent, woody in the lower part, branched, with ascending annual and herbaceous branches (suffruticose) with hairs 3 millimeters long (hence the Latin name hirsutus of this species, meaning hairy). The small deciduous leaves are trifoliate, ovate to elliptic, hairy on both sides, 18–25 millimetres (0.71–0.98 in) long, with a petiole. The flowers are initially orange-yellow, then tend to be colored with reddish brown. The flowering period extends from April through June. Its legumes (seed pods) are 25–40 millimetres (0.98–1.57 in) long, very hairy and mature in late Summer.

Taxonomy

Chamaecytisus hirsutus was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as Cytisus hirsutus. It was transferred to the genus Chamaecytisus in 1831. [2]

Subspecies

As of August 2025, Plants of the World Online accepted two subspecies:

Flower Fabaceae - Chamaecytisus hirsutus-2.JPG
Flower
Flower Fabaceae - Chamaecytisus hirsutus.JPG
Flower
Leaves Fabaceae - Chamaecytisus hirsutus-3.JPG
Leaves

Distribution

This plant occurs in Turkey, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Switzerland, Albania, Bulgaria, former Yugoslavia, Greece, Italy, Romania and France.

Habitat

These plants can be found on calcareous and arid environments, such as dry meadows and slopes at the edge of the woods. They are typically found at an altitude of 0–1,500 metres (0–4,921 ft).

References

  1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species" . Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  2. "Chamaecytisus hirsutus (L.) Link". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  3. "Chamaecytisus hirsutus subsp. polytrichus (M.Bieb.) Ponert". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 2025-08-06.