Scientific noun: Spartium junceum L.
Family: Pea family- papilionaceae.
Habitat: Native from South Europe, it appears in grasslands and dry field margins, but it can also be found as a cultivated shrub in gardens or by the side of the roads. In the second case, to prevent slopes being eroded.
Components: Alkaloids ( Mainly cytisine and sparteine together with genistein and isosparteine); glycosides ( scoparin ); Acids (linoleic, oleic, caprylic, palmitic) tannins, oxalates...etc. Cytisine becomes hallucinogen and stimulant of the respiratory track. It is highly toxic, resulting lethal in a superior dose of 5 mg. Other plants where this component can be found are: Ulex europaeus or Genista tinctoria. Sparteine contains abortive, antiarrhythmic, cardiodepressive, diuretic and hypoglycemic properties. Consequently, it exerts a relaxing function in cardiac muscle although it can be considered very poisonous. It is even used as insecticide. It appears in less proportion in other plants as Cytisus scoparius and Aconitus napelus, the last one being considered one of the highest poisons in the world. In a lower dose, genistein can also result abortive, fungicide and anticancerous.
Active parts: The whole plant (cytisine, sparteine), but specially the flowers and seeds. The flowers are very rich in scoparin and genistein is mainly found in young shoots.
Uses :   Diuretic and laxative. Diuresis- water elimination of the body - is produced by the action of scoparin on the renal mucosa. Sparteine is used as a heart tonic, although the quantity of this product contained in the plant is so high, that Cytisus scoparius, with a lesser content, is being used instead. In high doses, this component becomes very toxic by diminishing the pulse rate to such low levels that it can become lethal, so it is not advised it use as a home treatment. Industrial use : Industrially, flowers of Spanish broom are used to produce yellow pigments and with its bark a fiber is made to manufacture ropes and clothes. Bees use its flowers to make honey. Antidote against vipers. In some places in Africa the decoction of the peeled branches is used to counteract viper bites.
Toxicity : Extreme in case of going over the allowed levels. Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, tachycardia, somnolence, painful breathing, lowering of hearth pulse and death. Cultivation