Echinospartum (Spach) Rothm.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 100

18. Echinospartum (Spach) Rothm. 1

Small shrubs with opposite spiny branches. Leaves 3-foliolate, shortly petiolate or sessile. Calyx inflated, campanulate, bilabiate; upper lip deeply 2-fid; lower with 3 prominent teeth; all teeth as long as or longer than the tube; corolla yellow; stamens monadelphous. Legume ovoid-acuminate, dehiscent, villous. Seeds 1-3.

Literature: W. Rothmaler, Bot. Jahrb. 72: 79-84 (1941).

1 Flowers in terminal clusters of 3-9 3. lusitanicum

1 Flowers 2 on each branch, sometimes with a further 2 lower down

2 Flowering branch without a terminal spine; standard glabrescent or sparsely sericeous 1. horridum

2 Flowering branch terminated by a small spine; standard densely sericeous 2. boissieri