Calicotome spinosa

Calicotome spinosa (known as thorny broom or spiny broom) is a very spiny, densely branched shrub of the legume family Fabaceae which can reach up to three metres in height. It grows in the Western Mediterranean region on sunny slopes and dry, rocky ground. It is found in Spain, France, Italy, Croatia and Algeria and Turkey has been introduced to New Zealand. From March to June it produces bright yellow flowers which are borne singly or in small clusters. The seed-pods are 30mm long and are almost hairless, unlike those of the similar species Calicotome villosa.

Calicotome spinosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Fabales
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Calicotome
Species:
C. spinosa
Binomial name
Calicotome spinosa
Calicotome spinosa - MHNT

Plant usages in antiquity

The florets were used in ancient times to flavor sesame oil. Al-Tamimi, the physician (10th century), describing the process, writes that in Palestine it was commonly practiced to collect the yellow florets of the spiny broom (Arabic: القندول‎), spread them upon thickly woven sackcloth which laid out in the hot sun, pour over them hulled sesame seeds and cover them with linen sheets, while leaving them in this condition until the moisture in the florets has evaporated. In this manner, the sesame seeds would absorb the sweet fragrance of the florets. After one or two days, the florets and sesame seeds were then separated, the sesame placed on clean linen garments, being allowed to further dry-out from the moisture absorbed by the florets. This process was repeated up to 3 or 4 times, with a fresh batch of florets set out to dry, until at length the pungent flavor of the florets (resembling the taste of vanilla)[1] had been fully imparted to the sesame seeds. The dried florets were then collected and pressed with the sesame seeds in order to produce a fragrant oil. The oil was formerly stored in glassware vessels, with just enough space left at the top to be sealed with the florets of the spiny broom.[2] Today, the florets are still used by Bedouins to flavor butter.

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References
  1. What is described by al-Tamimi as the aroma of sap which exudes from the Storax tree (Styrax officinalis), or what is called in Arabic al-mi'ah.
  2. Zohar Amar and Yaron Serri, The Land of Israel and Syria as Described by al-Tamimi – Jerusalem Physician of the 10th Century, Ramat-Gan 2004, pp. 119–122 ISBN 965-226-252-8 (Hebrew)
  • David Burnie (1995) Wild Flowers of the Mediterranean. ISBN 0-7513-2761-1
  • Oleg Polunin & B. E. Smythies (1973) Flowers of South-West Europe:a field guide. ISBN 0-19-217625-0
  • T. G. Tutin et al. (1968) Flora Europaea, Volume 2. ISBN 0-521-06662-X


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