Broom (Sarothamnus scoparius)

Out on the heaths the gorse is all but over after flowering for the last three months but in some areas of Wareham Forest, for example, you would be forgiven for thinking that, at first glance, there was new flush of flowers.

Closer examination reveals that this flower, although very similar to gorse, is growing on a spineless, green shrub and is, in fact, broom.

Closely related to gorse, of course, it is common on dry, acid soils across the British Isles and will flower now until early July. Then, on the hot sunny days of August (if we get any) you will hear the snap of the seed pods as they dry out and burst open to throw the seeds far and wide.