Spartium junceum
Spartium junceum L.
| Order | Fabales |
|---|---|
| Family | Leguminosae |
| Genus | Spartium |
2n = 48-52
Origin : Mediterranean area
wild and cultivated
| English | {{{english}}} |
|---|---|
| French | {{{french}}} |
Popular names
- English: Spanish broom
- French: genêt d'Espagne
- Spanish: retama de olor, gayomba, gallomba, ginesta, ginestra
Biology
Classification
Spartium junceum L. (1753)
synonyms:
- Genista juncea (L.) Scop. (1771)
Cultivars
History
Uses
- fiber
The entire stems can be used as ties (for grapevine), or bundled as brooms.
The fiber can be extracted and processed into textiles. Raw textiles are used for wrapping agricultural products, and fine textiles give linen.
A factory in Aspiran (Hérault, France) processed the fiber from 1942 to 1960, and sowing of Spanish broom was encouraged in the arid areas of Lodève and Clermont-l'Hérault (Hérault), characterized by a deep red clay called ruffes.
- fodder
The green foliage was eaten by sheep and goats, but when eaten alone in big quantities, it can be noxious.
- medicinal
Several uses are documented, but the plant is highly toxic (particularly flowers, seeds).
- ornemental
The plant is commonly grown in gardens up to temperate areas, due to its beautiful flowers and shape.
References
- Olivier, Sylvain (dir.), Llaty, Catherine, Chabal, Lucie, Cullin-Mingaud, Magali, Durand, Aline, Jaudon, Bruno, Martin, Philippe, Vallat, François, Bernard, Régine, Boucherat, Toomaï, 2009. Le genêt textile. Plante sauvage, plante cultivée. (Les cahiers du Lodévois-Larzac, 34). Lodève, Communauté de communes Lodévois & Larzac. 144 p. A scholar and excellent synthesis about industrial use of Spanish broom as a fiber in Hérault (France).
- Perdomo, Molina, Antonio y Cubas Hernéndez, Fátima, 2002. Las fibras vegetales utilizadas tradicionalmente en el cultivo de la viña en Canarias. Una visión etnográfica y geográfica. IV Jornadas Técnicas Vitivinícolas de Canarias