Ulex minor Roth

Shrub up to 1.5 m high; main stem often procumbent, somewhat branched; young twigs and spines dark green; hairs grey to brown; spines branched; terminal and lateral spines rather weak and often curved, somewhat furrowed or striate, 10–25 mm long; secondary spines subtending lateral up to 10 mm long. Fls solitary; bracteoles acute, c. 0.5 mm wide. Calyx greenish yellow, slightly < or = corolla, sparsely to moderately clothed in appressed hairs; calyx teeth divergent. Corolla clear yellow, 7–11 mm long; wings < keel. Pod villous, turning dark brown to black, 8–10 mm long; seeds smooth and rounded, brown to greenish brown, shiny, few per pod.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Jun.–Sep.