Large, spineless shrub to 3 m, occasionally more, with numerous cylindrical, bluish-green, rush-like stems. Leaves sparse, linear-oblong, soon falling. Flowers large, bright yellow, 20 to 25 mm long, generally solitary, but borne in profusion, sweetly scented. Pod flattened, 50 to 80 mm long. Dry slopes, maquis, open woodland, road sides, generally on calcareous soils. Flowering time: May-Aug. Widespread throughout the mediterranean region, not Cyprus and parts of the East Mediterranean, but widely planted. The flexible branches are sometimes used for making baskets and weaving.

Wild Flowers of the Mediterranean

by M. Blamey and C. Grey-Wilson

(A&C Black, London, 2004)

1 seedling;  2 open flower;  3 anthers;  4 calix;  5 closed pod;

6 open pod;  7 seed;  8 seed, side cross section.

Atlas drveća i grmlja  by Čedomil Šilić (Svjetlost, Sarajevo, 1983)