About Ulex gallii Planch.
Ulex gallii Planch. typically grows 10 to 50 centimeters (4 to 20 inches) tall, though it can reach up to 2 meters (7 feet) in height. Its stems are modified into spines: most spines are around 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) long, with some regularly spaced recurved spines measuring approximately 3 centimeters (1 inch) long. As with other species in the genus Ulex, Ulex gallii has trifoliate leaves when it is a seedling, but mature leaves are reduced to small scales or spines. The stems of Ulex gallii are green, and they almost fully replace leaves as the plant's active photosynthetic organs. The plant's flowers are yellow, 1 to 2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long, with the characteristic structure of a pea flower. Flowers are produced mainly in late summer and autumn, and rarely appear before July. The fruit is a legume pod, which is partially enclosed by the pale brown leftover remains of the flower. Like many gorse species, Ulex gallii can grow as a fire-climax plant: it catches fire easily, but regrows from its roots after a fire, and its seeds are adapted to germinate after being lightly scorched by fire.
