Ulex europaeus.es.wikipedia.org (Accessed 5/2014).

Ulex europaeus is a spiny, densely branched shrub to 2 m tall; stems terminating in a spine. 

Leaves numerous, crowded, all reduced to spines, to 1.5 cm long, no normal leaves, except in young plants. 

Flowers bright yellow, pea-flower-shaped, to 2 cm, in branched clusters. 

Fruit pods to 2 cm long, wooly-hairy, with 2-4 seeds. 

Wetland status: NL. 

Frequency in NYC: Very infrequent. 

Origin: Europe. 

Habitat: Escaped from cultivation. Dry, sandy soil, open areas. 

Notes: Probably shaded out by successional vegetation in less disturbed sites.