Western Gorse Ulex gallii Aiteann gaelach Family: Fabaceae Flowering time: July-September. Evergreen shrub. Native. Golden-yellow flowers in lateral clusters. Densely spiny, low spreading shrub. Spines less grooved than those of Gorse/Furze, U. europaeus. Young plants have leaves with three leaflets (ternate). Height to 1.5m. Infertile acidic heaths, upland grasslands, sea cliffs, wasteground. Often grazed by sheep into neat, rounded shapes. Mainly found in S, SW and NE Ireland. Similar: Dwarf Gorse, U. minor. Introduced.

Photograph immediately above: Western Gorse (left) and European Gorse (right).