Calicotome


Calicotome is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae. It may be synonymous with Cytisus. All species of the genus are thorny shrubs. The ancient Greeks believed that tyrants in Hades were punished by being beaten with the thorny calycotomes.

Species

Calicotome comprises the following species:
ImageScientific nameDistribution
Calicotome infesta Guss.Europe
Calicotome ligustica FioriEurope-
Calicotome rigida Maire & WeillerNorth Africa
Calicotome spinosa LinkSpain, France, Italy, Croatia and Algeria
Calicotome villosa Linkeastern Mediterranean region, Europe