Broom bashes are frequently held throughout the plant's range, where volunteers cut, pull and dig out the plants, even in areas that are difficult to access and the weed pile is sometimes air lifted out by helicopter. Throughout British Columbia many groups - ranging from parks departments, to conservation groups, nature groups and biologists - have joined to fight this invasive on private, public and Crown lands. What is NCC doing to control this species?Įach year a huge amount of time and energy is put in to trying to control this invasive species. The roots of the plant hold bacteria that change the soil and has a very high oil content, making it extremely flammable. The plant grows quickly, crowding out wildflower species and reducing open habitat favoured by native birds and butterflies. Broom can be found on the lower Mainland, on the Sunshine Coast to Powell River, and through the Fraser Valley and Chilliwack Valley to Hope. It has been reported on the Gulf Islands as far north as Cortes, Hernando, Savary and Texada Islands. Since being introduced to BC., broom has spread from the Sooke area up the east side of Vancouver Island. Mature plants can produce upwards of 3,500 seed pods, which each produce 15-20 seeds that can remain viable for up to 30 years. Once introduced, this invasive species grows in dense patches, further choking out native species. Today, it is found throughout much of the southern BC mainland, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. It is also noxious to humans and animals if ingested. The plant's photosynthetic stems allow it to grow year-round, thereby out-competing other native species, including Douglas-fir and Garry oak. Broom has a deep root and a waxy covering on its branches and small leaves. The flowers appear in early spring and develop into pods by summer. How is it identified?īroom is a dark green deciduous shrub up to three metres tall, with small leaves and yellow or occasionally white flowers, having with a purple or brownish tinge. Scotch broom was also used for many years as a means of preventing soil erosion along roadsides. Once the packing material was discarded, this allowed the spread of the plant even further. Introduced as an ornamental plant in the mid-19th century, it is now the poster child of invasive species in British Columbia.Īccording to the BC Invasive Species Council, it would seem Scotch broom was also used to pack whiskey cases for gold camps along the west coast. Today, the florets are still used by Bedouins to flavour butter.Scotch broom is a perennial shrub originally from Europe. Further interestingly is that in ancient times the flowers were used in Palestine (10th century) to flavour sesame oil. However, this nitrogen fixation can change nutrient levels in the soil. Part of the nitrogen is used by the growing plant itself, but the other part may be used by other nearby plants. Calicotome spinosa has a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, so it can fix nitrogen. They are oblong to elongated in shape and contain 3-15 rounded, brown, shiny seeds. These pods are hairless, grey, black, or dark reddish-brown in colour. The fruit is a smooth, flattened pod (up to 40 mm long). The flowers are single or in small clusters near the ends of the branches. The plant produces several flowers, which are hermaphrodite, bright yellow, pea-shaped, measuring 12-25 mm long and are pollinated by insects. The trifoliate, sparsely hairy leaves have three dark green leaflets, which are elliptic in shape and the middle leaflet that is slightly larger than the others (about 6-12 mm long). The stems are much branched and have many, sharp, rigid spines reaching up to 75 mm long. Spiny broom is a perennial deciduous shrub usually growing 1.5-2.5 m high, but occasionally reaching up to 3 m. It is also common especially in areas after woodland clearance. It grows on sunny slopes and dry, rocky ground or near the coast. However, nowadays spiny broom has been cultivated as hedging and garden plant in southern Australia. Calicotome spinosa is native and distributed in the western Mediterranean region, including northern Libya, northern Algeria, Palestine and wider area, Italy, France and Spain. Hence its English common name spiny broom or thorny broom. Calicotome spinosa This plant species is a very spiny shrub from the family Fabaceae.
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