About Retama monosperma (L.) Boiss.
Retama monosperma, commonly known as bridal broom or bridal veil broom, is a species of flowering bush in the genus Retama. It is native to parts of the Mediterranean Basin: in the western basin it occurs in Algeria, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, while in the eastern basin it occurs in Egypt, the East Aegean Islands, and Greece. This species has been introduced to other regions outside its native range. Retama monosperma forms root nodules in a symbiosis with the bacterium Ensifer fredii. The larvae of two moth species, Phyllonorycter hesperiella and Phyllonorycter spartocytisi, feed on this plant. The seeds of Retama monosperma contain cytisine, a toxic alkaloid. Fifteen additional quinolizidine alkaloids and three dipiperidine alkaloids can be isolated from different parts of the plant. The specifically detected alkaloids include (+)-sparteine, α-isosparteine, β-isosparteine, (+)-17-oxosparteine, (-)-lupanine, 5,6-dehydrolupanine, (-)-anagyrine, (-)-N-methylcytisine, and (+)-ammodendrine.
