Gorse Ulex europaeus flowering in Winter snow on Kelling Heath Nature reserve Norfolk
Gorse, furze or whin is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. The genus comprises about 20 plant species of thorny evergreen shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Gorse is closely related to the brooms, and like them, has green stems and very small leaves and is adapted to dry growing conditions. However it differs in its extreme thorniness, the shoots being modified into branched thorns 1–4 centimeters long, which almost wholly replace the leaves as the plant's functioning photosynthetic organs. All the species have yellow flowers, generally showy, some with a very long flowering season.
Size: 5250px × 4715px
Location: Herts UK
Photo credit: © Ernie Janes / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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