Mediterranean broom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mediterranean broom |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Genista
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| Species: |
linifolia
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| Synonyms | |
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Cytisus linifolius |
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Genista linifolia is a type of plant often called Mediterranean broom, needle-leaved broom, or flax broom. It's a shrub that naturally grows in parts of southwestern Europe, North Africa, and the Canary Islands.
About Flax Broom
What It Looks Like
This plant is a shrub, which means it's a woody plant smaller than a tree. It has green stems and branches that feel a bit hairy. It can grow quite tall, sometimes more than two meters (about 6.5 feet) high!
Its leaves are tough and green. Each leaf is made of several small, lance-shaped pieces called leaflets. The underside of these leaflets feels soft and woolly.
Bright yellow flowers grow in tight clusters at the ends of the branches. These flowers look a bit like peas. After the flowers, the plant produces a fuzzy fruit. This fruit is a pod, like a pea pod, and is called a legume. It's usually one to four centimeters long and holds several seeds inside.
Why It Can Be a Problem
Even though flax broom is native to some areas, it has spread to other parts of the world. You can find it in places with similar climates, like California in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
In these new places, it has become an invasive species. This means it grows very quickly and can take over areas where native plants used to live. When an invasive species spreads too much, it can harm the local environment and the plants and animals that live there.
See also
In Spanish: Escobón blanco para niños
