Cytisus

Cytisus
Cytisus scoparius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Clade: Core Genistoids
Tribe: Genisteae
Genus: Cytisus
Desf. (1798), nom. cons.
Synonyms[1]
  • Chronanthos K.Koch (1853)
  • Corothamnus (W.D.J.Koch) C.Presl (1844)
  • Cytisogenista Duhamel (1755), nom. rej.
  • Lembotropis Griseb. (1843)
  • Meiemianthera Raf. (1838)
  • Nubigena Raf. (1838)
  • Peyssonelia Boivin ex Webb & Berthel. (1842)
  • Sarothamnus Wimm. (1832)
  • Scaligera Adans. (1763)
  • Spartocytisus Webb & Berthel. (1842)
  • Spartotamnus Webb & Berthel. ex C.Presl (1844)
  • Verzinum Raf. (1838)

Cytisus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, native to open sites (typically scrub and heathland) in Europe, western Asia and North Africa. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae, and is one of several genera in the tribe Genisteae which are commonly called brooms. They are shrubs producing masses of brightly coloured, pea-like flowers, often highly fragrant.[2] Members of the segregate genera Calicotome, Chamaecytisus, and Lembotropis are sometimes included in Cytisus.[3]

Species

As of August 2023, Kew's Plants of the World Online accepted the following species and natural hybrids:[1]

Award of Garden Merit cultivars

Species have been widely cultivated and hybridised, and the following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

  • Cytisus × beanii [4]
  • Cytisus × boskoopii 'Boskoop Ruby'[5] (deep crimson flowers,[6])
  • Cytisus × boskoopii 'Zeelandia'[7] (lilac, pink and cream flowers,[6])
  • Cytisus 'Burkwoodii'[8] (cerise red or crimson red and yellow edged flowers,[6])
  • Cytisus 'Hollandia'[9] (red and pale cream flowers,[6])
  • Cytisus × kewensis[10] (Cytisus ardoinii × Cytisus multiflorus; small, prostrate shrub with cream flowers)
  • Cytisus 'Lena' [11]
  • Cytisus nigricans 'Cyni'[12]
  • Cytisus × praecox 'Allgold'[13] (yellow flowers)
  • Cytisus × praecox 'Warminster' [14] (pale yellow flowers)

References

  1. ^ a b "Cytisus Desf". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  2. ^ RHS A–Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  3. ^ "ILDIS LegumeWeb entry for Cytisus". International Legume Database & Information Service. Cardiff School of Computer Science & Informatics. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Cytisus × beanii". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  5. ^ "RHS Plant Selector—Cytisus × boskoopii 'Boskoop Ruby'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d Andy McIndoe The Horticulture Gardener’s Guides - Shrubs (2005), p. 144, at Google Books
  7. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Cytisus × boskoopii 'Zeelandia'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  8. ^ "RHS Plant Selector—Cytisus 'Burkwoodii'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  9. ^ "RHS Plant Selector—Cytisus 'Hollandia'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  10. ^ "RHS Plant Selector—Cytisus × kewensis". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Cytisus 'Lena'". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Cytisus nigricans 'Cyni'". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  13. ^ "RHS Plant Selector—Cytisus ×praecox 'Allgold'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  14. ^ "RHS Plant Selector—Cytisus × praecox 'Warminster'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.