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Genista linifolia L.
Flaxleaf Broom

Reference
Sp.Pl. edn 2, 2:997-998 (1763)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Alien to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Erect shrub, 0.45-3 m high. Fl. yellow, Aug to Nov. Lateritic soils. Roadsides.

Amanda Spooner, Descriptive Catalogue, 17 August 2007
Image

Scientific Description

Erect, shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems terete, not spiny, hairy; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, simple, alternate or whorled, not continuous with stem, 15-30 mm long, 1.2-3 mm wide, hairy, with simple hairs, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent; pustules or glands absent. Stipules apparently absent even from the youngest leaves. Pedicel present, 3-3.5 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles present and persistent, 2.5-2.7 mm long, hairy, not striate. Calyx 7-9 mm long, not accrescent, hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 11-14 mm long, uniformly coloured, yellow; claws absent; standard 12-13.5 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, not auriculate, keel 10-11.5 mm long, not beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens; anthers 0.8-1 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments united in a closed sheath, 6-10 mm long. Ovary stipitate, hairy or glandular; style 11-12 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, not bearded, terete. Fruit dehiscent (a pod or follicle), sessile or subsessile, constricted between the seeds, round in cross-section, not beaked. Flowers in August, September, October and November. Occurs in the South-West Botanical Province, in the Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, Warren and Swan Coastal Plain IBRA regions.

C. Hollister and K.R. Thiele, 24 October 2023

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain, Warren.
IBRA Subregions
Katanning, Northern Jarrah Forest, Perth, Southern Jarrah Forest, Warren.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Albany, Augusta Margaret River, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Broomehill-Tambellup, Bunbury, Capel, Chittering, Gingin, Harvey, Kalamunda, Mundaring, Murray, Plantagenet, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Swan, York.

Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)

General Biology. Growth form. Shrub. Reproduction. Seed. Dispersal. Explosive action, birds, water, ants, machinery, slashing, soil movement, garden refuse. Time to first flowering. 2 years. Toxicity. Seeds are poisonous to humans. Vegetative regeneration strategy. Resprouts from base. Seedbank persistence. Long, 10+ years.

Additional information. Origin. Mediterranean region. History of use/introduction. Garden escape.

Suggested method of management and control. Hand pull or dig out small seedlings ensuring removal of all roots. For mature plants cut and paint with 50% glyphosate or foliar spray with 1% glyphosate, repeat treatment. Alternatively try 250 ml Access® in 15 L of diesel to basal 50 cm of stem (basal bark). Monitor site for recruitment from seedbank. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.

Management Calendar

Calendar Type Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Comments
Flowering                 O Y Y O  
Fruiting O               O Y Y Y  
Active Growth O O O O         Y Y Y O  
Optimum Treatment           Y Y Y Y Y Y    

Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.

 

References

  • Brown, K. & Brooks, K. (2002) Bushland Weeds: A Practical Guide to their Management. Environmental Weeds Action Network, Greenwood.
  • CRC Weed Management (2008) Weed management guide. Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) and other introduced brooms. CRC for Australian Weed Management.
  • Hosking, J.R. Sheppard, A.W. & Smith, J.M.B. (2000) Best practice management guide: Broom, Cytisus scoparius. CRC for Weed Management Systems, Adelaide. URL: http://www.weeds.crc.org.au/documents/broom.pdf - Accessed December 2007.
  • Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G. & Cousens, R.D. (2007) Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. 2nd Edition. The Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Victoria Park.
  • Muyt, A. (2001) Bush invaders of South-East Australia: A guide to the identification and control of environmental weeds found in South-East Australia. R.G. & F.J. Richardson, Melbourne.
  • Navie, S. & Adkins, S. (2008) Environmental Weeds of Australia, An interactive identification and information resource for over 1000 invasive plants. Centre for Biological Information Technology, The University of Queensland.
  • Parsons, W.T. & Cuthbertson, E.G. (2001) Noxious weeds of Australia. 2nd Edition. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.
  • Richardson, F.J., Richardson, R.G. & Shepard, R.C.H. (2006) Weeds of the Southeast. An identification guide for Australia. R.G and F.G. Richardson, Meredith.
  • Williamson, R. [updated by G. Johnson] (2007) Information notes. Cape Broom/Montpellier Broom. Department of Primary Industries, Victoria. URL: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/notes/ - Accessed December 2007.