Genista tinctoria

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Dyer's Broom
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Genista
Species: G. tinctoria
Binomial name
Genista tinctoria
L.

Genista tinctoria, with common names: Dyer's Broom, Dyer’s Greenweed, Dyer's Whin, Furze, Greenbroom, Greenweed, Waxen Woad, Woad Waxen and Waxen Wood, is a plant species of the genus Genista.

[edit] Description

A perennial herbaceous shrub which is found in dry uplands from Maine to Massachusetts and in eastern New York, as well as in meadows, pastures and woods in Europe. Growing to a heights of 1-2 feet, the stems are woody, slightly hairy, and branched. The alternate, nearly sessile leaves are glaborous and lanceolate . Golden-yellow flowers grow in narrow panicles from June to August. The fruit is a long, shiny pod shaped like a green bean pod.

[edit] Properties and uses

It was from this plant that the isoflavone genistein was first isolated in 1899; and hence the name of the chemical compound. The medicinal parts are the flowering twigs.

The tincture or extract can be used externally for herpes or tetters.[1] [2][dubious ]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Walter ED (1941). "Genistin (an isoflavone glucoside) and its aglucone, genistein, from soybeans". J Am Chem Soc 62 (12): 3273–3276. doi:10.1021/ja01857a013. 
  2. ^ The Herb Book, John Lust pg. 176
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