Plant ID

[Pandabean]

There is this plant that I have seen quite a few times but never known what it is. It is quite common from what I have seen so hopefully someone may know the answer.

Generally it takes the form of a large shrub, has green needles for leaves and black or grey (depending on time of year) hairy pods that rattle in the wind.

Can anyone help? Im sure its something simple but I can't work it out.

 

[JonathanD]

Looks like Broom. Does it have yellow flowers in the Spring/Summer?

 

[Osprey]

Hi Pandabean,
Looks like Broom to me.
Doug.

 

[JonathanD]

Like this....

 

[lab72]

yep that looks like broom to me .

 

[Pandabean]

Jonathan, thats the one! Thanks Its been bothering me for ages.

Do you know if there are any uses for it?

 

[Osprey]

Used to be used for making brooms, hence the name. Good for firelighting when dry,
Doug.

 

[Pandabean]

Used to be used for making brooms, hence the name. Good for firelighting when dry,
Doug.

Thanks Doug, I did wonder after I posted my reply if there was a connection.
Are you talking about the branches themselves being good for firelighting as they do have a "dry" sound to them when the wind blows.

 

[T1Viper]

I've just been reading up on gorse which is closely related to brooms.

Brooms used to be used in salads but now there are some concerns regarding it's toxicity.

 

[Osprey]

The thinnest twigs will take a spark from a ferro rod on a warm dry day, but it is probably more reliable to use them as fine kindling instead.
Cheers,
Doug.

 

[Pandabean]

Might give that a go next time I am out.

 

[tenderfoot]

I've just been reading up on gorse which is closely related to brooms.

Brooms used to be used in salads but now there are some concerns regarding it's toxicity.

i was always taught that the seed pods were poisonous. I vaguely remember seeing them on a poster in a/e as one of the toxic species if ingested but i dont think they were particularly bad (not up there with hemlock or deadly nightshade or many fungi)