Cytisus spinosus (L.) Lam.

Shrub up to 3 m high; twigs sparsely to moderately clothed in appressed hairs when young, becoming ± glabrous, furrowed; spines stout, simple, scattered, 10–40 mm long. Lvs glabrous above, sericeous below, petiolate, usually 3-foliolate; leaflets obovate, cuneate, mucronate or obtuse, 4–10–(12) mm long; petiolules ± equal. Fls mostly solitary, axillary, sometimes few in fascicles; pedicels 4–8 mm long; bracteoles subtending calyx usually 3-fid. Calyx remnant sparsely to moderately clothed in appressed hairs. Corolla yellow, 10–15 mm long. Pod usually glabrous or sometimes sparsely hairy along suture, narrowly oblong, 3–8-seeded, 30–40 mm long; sutures somewhat thickened and sometimes winged; seeds yellowish brown, smooth, flattened.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4. as Calicotome spinosa (L.) Link]

Flowering: Aug.–Feb.