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Useful Temperate Plants

Retama monosperma

(L.) Boiss.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Genista monosperma (L.) Lam.

Lygos monosperma (L.) Heywood

Lygos raetam bovei (Spach) Tackh. & Boulos

Retama rhodorhizoides Webb & Berthel.

Spartium monospermum L.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Retama monosperma is a straggling, much-branched shrub with slender stems, growing up to 3 metres tall[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. The leaves are very small and quickly drop from the plant. The plant remains leafless for most of the year, photosynthesis being carried out by the green stems.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It can be used in soil stabilization projects and is sometimes grown as an ornamental, especially in Mediterranean climates[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Range

Mediterranean region - southern Portugal, southwest Spain, Morocco, Algeria, northern Egypt; Macaronesia - Canary Islands

Habitat

Open positions on sandy or stony soils, most commonly on sand dunes near the coast, often in association with Pinus species; at elevations up to 300 metres[
1582
Title
Producción y manejo de semillas y plantas forestales
Publication
 
Author
García J.P. et al
Website
https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/parques-nacionales-oapn/publicaciones/naturaleza-parques.aspx
Publisher
Ministerio de Agricultura; Madrid
Year
2014
ISBN
978-84-8014-837-5
Description
An excellent guide, in Spanish, to the Forestry trees and shrubs of Spain. It can be downloaded as a PDF.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitDeciduous Shrub
Height2.50 m
Growth RateFast
PollinatorsBees, Insects
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Retama monosperma is a plant of low elevations in Mediterranean regions with their hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters. It grows mainly in areas where the average annual temperature is between 15.8 - 17.8°c and that of the coldest month can fall as low as 3.7 - 7.8°c[
1582
Title
Producción y manejo de semillas y plantas forestales
Publication
 
Author
García J.P. et al
Website
https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/parques-nacionales-oapn/publicaciones/naturaleza-parques.aspx
Publisher
Ministerio de Agricultura; Madrid
Year
2014
ISBN
978-84-8014-837-5
Description
An excellent guide, in Spanish, to the Forestry trees and shrubs of Spain. It can be downloaded as a PDF.
]. The mean annual rainfall is around 480 - 850mm, falling almost entirely in the cooler months[
1582
Title
Producción y manejo de semillas y plantas forestales
Publication
 
Author
García J.P. et al
Website
https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/parques-nacionales-oapn/publicaciones/naturaleza-parques.aspx
Publisher
Ministerio de Agricultura; Madrid
Year
2014
ISBN
978-84-8014-837-5
Description
An excellent guide, in Spanish, to the Forestry trees and shrubs of Spain. It can be downloaded as a PDF.
]. It can be grown outdoors in temperate regions that are free from prolonged frosts. So long as the preceding summer has been hot enough to ripe the current season's growth, the plant is able to tolerate short periods where temperatures fall to around -5°c.[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Requires a warm, sunny position in a very well-drained, light-textured soil and some protection from rain in the winter[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Grows best in drier soils of low fertility[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Plants are tolerant of strong, salt-laden winds[
1582
Title
Producción y manejo de semillas y plantas forestales
Publication
 
Author
García J.P. et al
Website
https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/parques-nacionales-oapn/publicaciones/naturaleza-parques.aspx
Publisher
Ministerio de Agricultura; Madrid
Year
2014
ISBN
978-84-8014-837-5
Description
An excellent guide, in Spanish, to the Forestry trees and shrubs of Spain. It can be downloaded as a PDF.
].
A fast-growing species with an average lifespan of around 15 years[
1582
Title
Producción y manejo de semillas y plantas forestales
Publication
 
Author
García J.P. et al
Website
https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/parques-nacionales-oapn/publicaciones/naturaleza-parques.aspx
Publisher
Ministerio de Agricultura; Madrid
Year
2014
ISBN
978-84-8014-837-5
Description
An excellent guide, in Spanish, to the Forestry trees and shrubs of Spain. It can be downloaded as a PDF.
].
The flowers are sweetly fragrant[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
1309
Title
The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
Publication
 
Author
Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin
Year
1981
ISBN
0-333-32221-5
Description
An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Whilst Retama raetam is the most commonly used medicinal species[
1583
Title
Genus Retama: a review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities
Publication
Phytochem Rev February 2018
Author
León-González A.J. et al
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-018-9555-3
Publisher
 
Year
2018
ISBN
 
Description
Published on-line, an excellent review of the uses of species in the genus Retama
], various studies have shown that all the species in the genus have very similar medicinal properties. They have a range of biological activities, including antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, anti-proliferative, antiulcer, antiviral, and hepatoprotective activities[
1583
Title
Genus Retama: a review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities
Publication
Phytochem Rev February 2018
Author
León-González A.J. et al
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-018-9555-3
Publisher
 
Year
2018
ISBN
 
Description
Published on-line, an excellent review of the uses of species in the genus Retama
].

Various excerpts of the plant have shown interesting antileukemic activities and anti-inflammatory for Crohn's disease[
1581
Title
Inventario Espanol de los Conocimientos Tradicionales relativos a la Biodiversidad. Segunda Fase
Publication
 
Author
Editors: Manuel Pardo de Santayana et al
Website
http://publicacionesoficiales.boe.es/
Publisher
Ministerio de Agricultura; Madrid
Year
2018
ISBN
978-84-491-1472-4
Description
An excellent guide to the traditional uses of plants in Spain. Produced in three volumes, it is available for download as a PDF from the Internet
].

The leaves and young stems are emetic, purgative and vermifuge. They are used in the treatment of rabies[
1583
Title
Genus Retama: a review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities
Publication
Phytochem Rev February 2018
Author
León-González A.J. et al
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-018-9555-3
Publisher
 
Year
2018
ISBN
 
Description
Published on-line, an excellent review of the uses of species in the genus Retama
].
The crushed branches are used as plasters in making bandages for broken bones[
1581
Title
Inventario Espanol de los Conocimientos Tradicionales relativos a la Biodiversidad. Segunda Fase
Publication
 
Author
Editors: Manuel Pardo de Santayana et al
Website
http://publicacionesoficiales.boe.es/
Publisher
Ministerio de Agricultura; Madrid
Year
2018
ISBN
978-84-491-1472-4
Description
An excellent guide to the traditional uses of plants in Spain. Produced in three volumes, it is available for download as a PDF from the Internet
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is used to stabilize mobile coastal sand dunes and provide wind protection[
1582
Title
Producción y manejo de semillas y plantas forestales
Publication
 
Author
García J.P. et al
Website
https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/parques-nacionales-oapn/publicaciones/naturaleza-parques.aspx
Publisher
Ministerio de Agricultura; Madrid
Year
2014
ISBN
978-84-8014-837-5
Description
An excellent guide, in Spanish, to the Forestry trees and shrubs of Spain. It can be downloaded as a PDF.
].

Other Uses

The branches have been used as a rope to hold freshly harvested straw[
1581
Title
Inventario Espanol de los Conocimientos Tradicionales relativos a la Biodiversidad. Segunda Fase
Publication
 
Author
Editors: Manuel Pardo de Santayana et al
Website
http://publicacionesoficiales.boe.es/
Publisher
Ministerio de Agricultura; Madrid
Year
2018
ISBN
978-84-491-1472-4
Description
An excellent guide to the traditional uses of plants in Spain. Produced in three volumes, it is available for download as a PDF from the Internet
].

The branches have been used for thatching[
1582
Title
Producción y manejo de semillas y plantas forestales
Publication
 
Author
García J.P. et al
Website
https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/parques-nacionales-oapn/publicaciones/naturaleza-parques.aspx
Publisher
Ministerio de Agricultura; Madrid
Year
2014
ISBN
978-84-8014-837-5
Description
An excellent guide, in Spanish, to the Forestry trees and shrubs of Spain. It can be downloaded as a PDF.
].

The stems can be used to make brooms[
1582
Title
Producción y manejo de semillas y plantas forestales
Publication
 
Author
García J.P. et al
Website
https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/parques-nacionales-oapn/publicaciones/naturaleza-parques.aspx
Publisher
Ministerio de Agricultura; Madrid
Year
2014
ISBN
978-84-8014-837-5
Description
An excellent guide, in Spanish, to the Forestry trees and shrubs of Spain. It can be downloaded as a PDF.
].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and benefits from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood in a frame[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-07. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Retama+monosperma>

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