Broom, Cytisus scoparius, European Broom, Irish Broom, Genista, Besom

Broom scientifically known as Cytisus scoparius is a multi-stemmed, deciduous/evergreen shrub that grows 6 to 12 feet (2-4 m) tall.  Apart from broom it is also known as Scotch Broom, Broomtops, Common Broom, European Broom, Irish Broom, Genista, Besom, Scoparium, Irish Tops, Basam, Bizzom, Browme, Brum and Breeam.  The plant is native to central and southern Europe from the British Isles east to southern Scandinavia, south to Iberia, and east to Belarus and Romania. It is a species in the pea family Fabaceae. The plant was introduced as an ornamental shrub and for erosion control use.  In medieval Europe, the typical housewife used the twigs and branches of the scotch broom as domestic tool for sweeping the floors. A common belief in the middle Ages was that the scotch broom could repel witches; however, using the scotch broom while it was in full bloom was believed to invite bad luck on the house.

Plant Description

Broom is a multi-stemmed, deciduous/evergreen, erect and bushy shrub that grows about 6 to 12 feet (2-4 m) tall. They are found growing in disturbed areas, open forests, roadsides, grasslands, pastures, cultivated fields, wasteland, dry meadows, dry riverbeds and other waterways, sandy pastures and often near the coast. It prefers moderately fertile, dry to medium, well-drained soils. It can also tolerates poor rocky soils (good bank cover), but avoid wet soils. It has taproot that may exceed 2 feet in length with large, shallow lateral roots. Stem is hairy when young and glabrous as they mature. Branches are numerous long, straight, slender bright green branches, tough and very flexible, smooth and prominently angled.

Roots

The broom plants form deep, branched taproots with fine roots associated with nitrogen fixation. New shoots can grow from the crown when plants are cut above the crown.

Leaves

Leaves of broom are alternate and compound consisting of three oblong leaflets.  Very few leaves are present on stems. New twigs may only have one leaflet. Leaflets are small approximately 0.3 to 0.7 inch (5-20 mm) long and 1.5 to 8 mm wide.  The leaflets are dark green and fleshy and serrated along their margin.  The underside of the leaflets is covered by flattened, short hairs while the upper surface is smooth.

Flowers

Flowers are pea-like; upper and lower curved petal has wing petals on each side. Scotch broom flowers are yellow to partially to complete red in color. They are small, only 1-2.5 cm. The stamens are fused.  Plants flower from May to June.

Fruits

Fruits develop as seed pods that mature in June-July. Seed pods are 2.5-7 cm long and 8-13 mm wide, smooth with long silky hairs. Pods are initially green which turn dark brown to black when mature. Seeds are small, 3-4 mm diameter long and shiny, brown to black in color with a whitish appendage which attracts ants and some birds.  Nearly 3-12 seeds are found within each pod.

History

Scotch broom originates from Europe. It was brought to North America as an ornamental garden plant in the 1800s. It also had other uses, including: a coffee alternative, medicinal uses, and a source of yellow dye. Since then it has managed to escape from many gardens and is a common invader on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. In PEI there have been a few sightings of scotch broom along roadsides and in ditches. However, most are contained in gardens.

Varieties

There are two subspecies, which differ mainly in growth habit:

1. Cytisus scoparius subsp. scoparius (Common Broom)

An erect shrub, growing to 2-3 meters (rarely 4 m) tall; shoots thinly hairy at first, soon becoming glabrous. This is the common form, occurring through most of the species range.

2. Cytisus scoparius subsp. maritimus (Rouy) Heywood (Prostrate Broom)

Prostrate, ground-hugging shrub, not exceeding half a meter in height; shoots densely silky-hairy. It is restricted to the Atlantic coasts of southern Ireland, west Wales, southwestern England, and northwestern France.

Traditional uses and benefits of broom

• Blossoms were used for making an ointment to cure the gout.
• Henry VIII used to drink water made from the flowers against the surfeit.
• Dodoens recommended a decoction of the tops in dropsy and for ‘stoppages of the liver.’
• Culpepper considered the decoction of Broom to be good not only for dropsy, but also for black jaundice?, ague, gout, pain? traveling along the sciatic nerve, often from lower back to leg. সহজ বাংলা: কোমর থেকে পায়ে নামা নার্ভের ব্যথা।" data-rx-term="sciatica" data-rx-definition="Sciatica means pain traveling along the sciatic nerve, often from lower back to leg. সহজ বাংলা: কোমর থেকে পায়ে নামা নার্ভের ব্যথা।">sciatica? and various pains of the hips and joints.
• Tablespoonful of powdered seeds in a glass of peppermint water was taken daily for liver complaints and ague.
• Compound decoction of Broom is recommended in herbal medicine as of much benefit in bladder and kidney affections, as well as in chronic? dropsy.
• Broom is a bitter narcotic herb that reduces the respiration and regulates heart action.
• It acts upon the electrical conductivity of the heart, slowing and regulating the transmission of the impulses.
• Young herbaceous tips of flowering shoots are cardio-tonic, cathartic, diuretic, emetic and vasoconstrictor.
• Plant is used internally in the treatment of heart complaints, and is especially used in conjunction with Convallaria majalis.
• Plant is also strongly diuretic, stimulating urine production and thus countering fluid retention.
• Broom causes the muscles of the uterus to contract; it has been used to prevent blood loss after childbirth.
• It is used as remedy for treating an irregular and fast heart beat rate.
• The herb slows down and controls the transmission of the nerve impulses in cardiac muscles.
• The broom helps stimulate the production of urine and counters fluid retention in the body.
• Together with lily of the valley, the broom herb is employed internally for treating problems related to the heart.
• Broom is applied to the skin for sore muscles, pockets of infection? (abscesses), and swelling?.
• Broom is also used in hair rinses to lighten and brighten hair.

Dosing

Adults (18 years and older)

It is not clear what dose(s) of scotch broom are safe or effective for any medical condition, and use should only be under medical supervision. Storage of the flower or herb should be in a cool, dry location.

A juice has been made by pressing the bruised, fresh tops and adding one-third volume alcohol, allowing it to sit for seven days, followed by filtration, and taken daily as needed. An infusion has been made by adding 1 ounce of dried tops to a pint of boiling water (or 1 teaspoon in 200 milliliters boiling water) and taken as a cup-full once or twice daily as needed.

As a tea, 1-2 grams (1 level teaspoon) of herb can be steeped in 150-200 milliters of boiling water, then strained after 5-10 minutes and taken as a cup-full, up to three times daily as needed. As a decoction, 1-2 grams of herb have been used in preparations. As a liquid extract, a 1:1 preparation in 25% ethanol (v/v) has been prepared and taken as 1-2 milliliters as needed. As a tincture, a 1:5 preparation in 45% ethanol (v/v) has been taken at a dose of 0.5-2 milliliters daily. The herb may also be available as an aqueous-ethanol preparation (1:1:5) or as an aqueous essential oil extract.

Children (younger than 18 years)

Avoid due to potentially life-threatening toxicity.

Culinary uses

• Tender plant tops have been used to flavor beer.
• Leaves and aged flowers have been smoked to produce euphoria.
• Roasted Seeds are served as a substitute for coffee.
• The flower buds are pickled and used as a substitute for capers.
• Flower buds of this plant may be included in salads.

Other Facts

• It is often used as an outdoor ornamental to hold steep, barren banks in place.
• Moldy, dried blossoms are pulverized, rolled in cigarette paper and smoked like marijuana.
• Tannin exists in considerable amount in the bark, which has been used in former times for tanning leather.
• Green tops were a good winter food for sheep, preventing rot and dropsy in them.
• An excellent fiber is obtained from the bark; it is used in the manufacture of paper, cloth and nets.
• Yellow and a brown dye are obtained from the bark.
• Yellow dye is obtained from the flowering stem.
• Green dye is obtained from the leaves and young tops.
• Branches are used to make baskets, brushes, brooms and besoms.
• They are also sometimes used for thatching roofs and as substitutes for reeds in making fences or screens.
• An essential oil from the flowers is used in perfumery.
• Broom can produce up to 10.000 seed per season.
• Broom can be used to prevent erosion of the soil.
• Leaves or young tops yield a green dye.

Precaution

• Avoid use during pregnancy and breast feeding.
• Excess use may cause Nausea? and Diarrhea?.
• Use this herb with caution since large doses are likely to upset the stomach.
• This herb should not be prescribed for patients with high blood pressure, kidney disorders, spleen disorders as well as liver disorders.
• Seeds of Scotch broom are toxic for humans and livestock.

References