Ulex europaeus

Botanical Description

Ulex europaeus is a very prickly, erect, evergreen shrub usually growing up to 2 metres tall, occasionally to 3 metres. In some areas where it has been introduced, such as New Zealand, plants up to 7 metres tall are not uncommon[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ]. The plant is densely branched, especially when young, but eventually becomes bare at the base; it often forms dense, impenetrable thickets. The plant is gathered from the wild for local use, mainly as a source of materials but also sometimes as a food and medicine. It can be grown as an impenetrable hedge, to stabilize the soil and also as a pioneer species when restoring native woodland. Ulex europaeus has a wide natural distribution and is considered to be a native endemic to western Europe, primary in Atlantic coastal areas. There are no major known threats to the species and the population is believed to be stable. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. A fast growing plant that can quickly invade open areas, gorse was spread intentionally through most of the world by humans as a useful plant in the 19th and 20th centuries. It has escaped from cultivation and has become invasive in many of these areas. The plant spreads itself by means of seed, which is ejected explosively for some metres from seedpods - it cannot, therefore, easily spread great distances without human agency. It can produce large numbers of seeds, and these can remain viable in the soil for up to 28 years - thus large seedbanks can be built up in the soil. The plant can form large, monotypic stands that crowd out native vegetation and can become a serious fire risk, though it has also been noted that these stands can become an excellent nursery area for native trees to germinate and become established, thus helping to restore native woodland[ 1050 Title Fire Effects Information System Publication Author Website http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants , 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). , K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ].