Calicotome Link
Genus composed of 5 species, distributed with greater or lesser extent across the Mediterranean region. Of these, only C. infesta (C.Presl) Guss. (Spartium infestum C.Presl) lacks representation in North Africa.
Key to species
1 Old branches glabrous; ovary and fruit glabrous Calicotome spinosa
1 Old branches hairy; ovary and fruits hairy, rarely glabrous 2
2 Branches and spines sericeous Calicotome intermedia
2 Branches and spines densely villous 3
3 Pod villous-lanate Calicotome villosa
3 Pod glabrous Calicotome rigida
Gibbs, P.E. 1968. Taxonomy and distribution of the genus Calicotome. Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 28: 275-286.
Rothmaler, W. 1949. Revision der Genisteen. II. Die Gattungen Erinacea, Spartium und Calycotome. Bot. Jahrb. 74: 271-287.
Vicioso, C. 1955. Genísteas españolas. II. Erinacea, Spartium, Retama, Chamaecytisus, Cytisus, Sarothamnus, Calicotome, Adenocarpus. Bol. Inst. Forest. Invest. Exp. 72: 224-232.
Key to species
1 Old branches glabrous; ovary and fruit glabrous Calicotome spinosa
1 Old branches hairy; ovary and fruits hairy, rarely glabrous 2
2 Branches and spines sericeous Calicotome intermedia
2 Branches and spines densely villous 3
3 Pod villous-lanate Calicotome villosa
3 Pod glabrous Calicotome rigida
Updated by: J.A. Devesa & G. Martínez-Sagarra.