Citation: Webb in Webb & Berth., Phyt. Canar. 2:56 (1842).

Synonymy: Genista raetam Forsskål, Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 214 (1775). , Retama duriaei

Common name: White weeping broom, white Spanish broom.

Description:
Stem to 3 m high, erect, divaricately branched, branches pendent, sericeous when young; leaves (not seen) linear-lanceolate or linear-subspathulate, sericeous-pubescent, deciduous; raceme lax, 3-15-flowered; bracts triangular, c. 1.5 mm long, glabrous, bracteoles distal on the pedicel, wart-like.

Flowers 8-10 mm long, on pedicels c. 1 mm long; calyx urceolate or campanulate, 3-4 x c. 2.5 mm, glabrous, 2-lipped, upper lip with 2 triangular teeth deeply divided by a large sinus; lower lip with 3 linear-subulate short teeth, often ciliate, circumscissilely caducous after anthesis; petals white, pubescent outside, standard rhombic-ovate; wings oblong, obtuse, as long as the cuspidate-acuminate keel; ovary oblong, glabrous, attenuate into a long style.

Pod obovoid, c. 15 x 10 mm, indehiscent or tardily dehiscent, with a short mucro or an erect or curved beak, at first fleshy, later leathery, smooth or wrinkled, 2-seeded; seed globular-reniform, yellow or brown to black, c. 6.5 x 5 mm.

	Retama raetam twig, flower and legume.
Image source: fig 384a in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Zohary (1972) Flora Palaestina 2:t. 63.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: FR, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, SE.   Originated in the Mediterranean region, in maritime sands. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: July — Oct.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available