Calicotome is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It includes five species native to the Mediterranean Basin. The genus belongs to the subfamily Faboideae. It may be synonymous with Cytisus. All species of the genus are thorny shrubs. In the Myth of Er, tyrants are punished by being dragged through thorny Calicotomes (ἀσπάλαθος).

Species

Calicotome comprises the following species:

ImageScientific nameDistribution
Calicotome infesta (C. Presl) Guss.Europe
Calicotome intermedia (Salzm. ex C.Presl) Boiss. ex Rchb.f.North Africa (Morocco to Libya) and southern and southeastern Spain
Calicotome rigida (Viv.) Maire & WeillerNorth Africa
Calicotome spinosa (L.) LinkSpain, France, Italy, Croatia and Algeria
Calicotome villosa (Poir.) Linkeastern Mediterranean region, Europe

External links

  • Data related to Calicotome at Wikispecies
  • Media related to Calicotome at Wikimedia Commons