Broom is especially widespread in Central, Southern and Eastern Europe, and the plant has been naturalized in South Africa, North and South America. The herb is collected in spring or late autumn and imported mainly from the Balkan countries.
Use in herbal medicine
In herbal medicine, the aerial parts are used, often together with isolated flowers and flowering shoot tips (Cytisi scoparii herba). The flowers alone (Cytisi scoparii flos) are used more in folk medicine.
Broom: special characteristics
Broom broom is a branched shrub up to two meters high, forming green, cane-shaped branches. The branches bear undivided leaves on the upper branch segments, and the leaves are trifoliolate further down. Characteristic are the relatively dense yellow flowers, which grow up to 2.5 centimeters long and develop into flat, curved pods.
The main component of broomrape is the blackish-brown to brownish-green twiglets, about two to three millimeters thick. These have five clearly protruding, lighter longitudinal edges. Small leaf and flower fragments also occur sporadically.
What is the smell and taste of broom?
The herb does not emit any particular odor. In terms of taste, broomrape is very bitter.