Cytisus

cytisus

(ˈsɪtɪsəs) n (Plants) any of a member of a diverse genus of fragrant plants of the family Fabaceae, native to Europe, western Asia, and north Africa, and having brightly coloured flowers

Thesaurus

Noun

Cytisus - large genus of stiff or spiny evergreen or deciduous Old World shrubs: broomgenus Cytisusrosid dicot genus - a genus of dicotyledonous plantsPapilionoideae, subfamily Papilionoideae - alternative name used in some classification systems for the family PapilionaceaeCytisus albus, Cytisus multiflorus, white broom, white Spanish broom - low European broom having trifoliate leaves and yellowish-white flowerscommon broom, Cytisus scoparius, green broom, Scotch broom - deciduous erect spreading broom native to western Europe; widely cultivated for its rich yellow flowers

Cytisus

(broom), a genus of deciduous and, less commonly, evergreen plants of the family Leguminosae. The plants are low shrubs or, rarely, small trees, measuring up to 3 m tall and sometimes having small thorns. The leaves are ternate or, less commonly, entire. The flowers are yellow or white and are gathered into axillary racemes or terminal heads. Purple and pink flowers are occasionally encountered. All the stamens are fused. The elongate pods are dehiscent and one-, two-, or many-seeded. The seeds are kidney-shaped and flat and have an aril.

The genus Cytisus has about 30 species (according to some data, as many as 60), distributed in Southern Europe, Central Europe, Western Siberia, and Northwest Africa. The USSR has about 20 species, which grow in steppes and forests, on rocky and limestone slopes, and on riverbank sands. The most widespread species is C. ruthenicus. The plants yield a substantial amount of nectar. Some species are raised as ornamentals. Many are poisonous, since they contain the alkaloid cytisine, which raises blood pressure and stimulates respiration.

REFERENCE

Derev’ia i kustarniki SSSR, vol. 4. Moscow-Leningrad, 1958.

Cytisus

Related to Cytisus: Sarothamnus scoparius

noun

Synonyms for Cytisus

noun large genus of stiff or spiny evergreen or deciduous Old World shrubs: broom

Synonyms

genus Cytisus

Related Words

rosid dicot genus
Papilionoideae
subfamily Papilionoideae
Cytisus albus
Cytisus multiflorus
white broom
white Spanish broom
common broom
Cytisus scoparius
green broom
Scotch broom