Calicotome

Calicotome
	Calicotome villosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Tribe:	Genisteae
Genus:	Calicotome; Link
Species
	5; see text

Calicotome is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the sub family Faboideae. It may be synonymous with Cytisus. All species of the genus are thorny shrubs. The ancient Greeks believed that tyrants in Hades were punished by being beaten with the thorny calycotomes.^{[citation needed]}

Species

Calicotome comprises the following species:^[2]^[3]^[4]

Image	Scientific name	Distribution
	Calicotome infesta (C. Presl) Guss.	Europe
	Calicotome ligustica (Burnat) Fiori	Europe
	Calicotome rigida (Viv.) Maire & Weiller	North Africa
	Calicotome spinosa (L.) Link	Spain, France, Italy, Croatia and Algeria
	Calicotome villosa (Poir.) Link	eastern Mediterranean region, Europe