Flax-leaf broom
Genista linifolia
family
Fabaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Category 3 Restricted Matter (Biosecurity Act 2014)
Must not be distributed or disposed. This means it must not be released into the environment unless the distribution or disposal is authorised in a regulation or under a permit.
Common names
Flax broom, Flax-leaf broom, Flaxleaf broom, Mediterranean broom.
An evergreen shrub growing to 3 m high consisting of one main stem with many brownish green branches above. Leaflets are dark green in colour, narrow (10-25 mm long) and slender (1-4 mm wide with rolled edges) with pointed ends and are arranged in groups of 3 leaflets along the branch. The under-side is densely covered in fine hairs giving a silvery appearance.
Impact
Impact
Flax-leaf broom (Genista linifolia) is a significant environmental weed in Victoria and South Australia, a minor environmental weed in Tasmania, and a "sleeper weed" in other parts of southern Australia. It is also listed as a priority environmental weed in at least one Natural Resource Management region. Infestations of this species shade and crowd out smaller shrubs and groundcover species, eventually dominating the shrub layer of woodlands and severely impeding overstorey regeneration. Flax-leaf broom (Genista linifolia) grows in a variety of natural habitats including forest margins, open woodlands, grasslands and riparian areas. It prefers slightly acidic soils in warmer temperate regions with moderately high rainfall. Being a legume it fixes nitrogen, which can increase soil fertility and encourage other weeds to invade infested areas.
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Flax-leaf broom (Genista linifolia) is a significant environmental weed in Victoria and South Australia, a minor environmental weed in Tasmania, and a "sleeper weed" in other parts of southern Australia. It is also listed as a priority environmental weed in at least one Natural Resource Management region. Infestations of this species shade and crowd out smaller shrubs and groundcover species, eventually dominating the shrub layer of woodlands and severely impeding overstorey regeneration. Flax-leaf broom (Genista linifolia) grows in a variety of natural habitats including forest margins, open woodlands, grasslands and riparian areas. It prefers slightly acidic soils in warmer temperate regions with moderately high rainfall. Being a legume it fixes nitrogen, which can increase soil fertility and encourage other weeds to invade infested areas.
