English Broom
Cytisus scoparius · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (380 studies) · ★★★★★
English Broom, scientifically known as Cytisuus scoparius, is a deciduous shrub native to Europe. While primarily celebrated for its vibrant yellow blossoms and ornamental appeal, it holds historical significance in traditional medicine. Its branches were once utilized for various medicinal preparations, though it remains more common in landscaping today.
Names
Common Names
- commom-broom
- Scot's broom
- Scotch broom
- Scottish broom
- Broom
- English broom
- European broom
- Irish broom
- broomtops
- common broom
- Green Broom
- Scots broom
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Genista angulosa
- Sarothamnus lusitanicus
- Hiniesta blanca
- Sarothamnus scoparius subsp. reverchonii
- Piorno negro
- Colutea scoparia
- Cytisogenista scoparia var oxyphylla
- Cytisogenista scoparia var leiostyla
- Hiniesta de escobas
- Cabestro de oro
- Cytisogenista scoparia var. leiostyla
- Sarothamnus vulgaris var leiostylos
- Sarothamnus vulgaris var. reverchonii
- Spartium angulatum
- Sarothamnus scoparius
- Sarothamnus bourgaei
- Retama negra
- escoba rubia
- Retama negra
German:
- Besenginster
- Besenstrauch
- Sarothamnus scoparius
- Spartium scoparium
- Genista scoparia
- Gewöhnlicher Besenginster
- Besenginster
- Besen-Ginster
- Gewöhnlicher Besenginster
- Gemeiner Besenginster
French:
- Genêt à balais
- Genet a balais
- Sarothamne
- Sarothamnus scoparius
- genêt à balais
- cytise à balais
- genêt à balais
- Cytise a balais
- Genet a balais
- Genêt à balai
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Cytisus scopariusSynonyms
- Sarothamnus scoparius
- Genista scoparia
- Spartium scoparium
- Corema scoparium
- Cytisogenista scoparia
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically classified within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is a member of the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae, falling under the genus Cytisus. Within this classification, the species is identified as Cytisus scoparius.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cytisus | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant, known as Cytisus scoparius, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the northern regions of Europe. It can be found growing naturally throughout several countries in Northern Europe, including Denmark and Great Britain. Its presence extends further west to the island of Ireland, where it occupies certain habitats. Additionally, the species is distributed across the Scandinavian Peninsula, specifically within the borders of Norway and Sweden. Together, these locations define the primary northern European range for this medicinal species.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Scotch broom, utilizes its seed as a primary component for reproduction and potential medicinal application. These small, dark, and somewhat hard-coated legumes are produced within distinctive pods that split open to disperse the progeny across the landscape. In various traditional practices, the properties contained within the seed have been studied for their specific biological effects, though the plant is most frequently recognized for its vigorous growth and ability to colonize disturbed habitats.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seed | Journal of biochemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cytisus scoparius has 34 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, BETA-SITOSTEROL, CYTISINE, Chlorophylls, Esculetin.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Ash | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BETA-SITOSTEROL | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CYTISINE | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chlorophylls | Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Esculetin | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| FAT | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavoxanthin | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Furfurol | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Genisteine | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hyperoside | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cytisus scoparius has 345 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, ATPase-Inhibitor.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 11B-HSD-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ATPase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Abortifacient | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Adrenergic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Allelochemic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |