''Ulex densus'' ( Portuguese: ''tojo-gatunho'' or ''tojo-da-charneca'') is an evergreen shrub in the family

Fabaceae Fabaceae () or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomen ...

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

Description

''Ulex densus'' is an evergreen shrub up to in height. It is densely ramified and forms a compact, closed pillow with dry brown stems and a bright green outside. It has spines up to long and secondary spines up to . Fruits are as large as the plant's calyx and have 1-2 seeds.

Distribution and habitat

''Ulex densus'' grows in the central-west coast of Portugal, mainly on the

Lisbon District Lisbon District () is a district located along the western coast of Portugal. The district capital is the city of Lisbon, which is also the national capital. From its creation until 1926, it included the area of the current Setúbal District. ...

, southern

Leiria District The District of Leiria ( ) is a district located between the Oeste e Vale do Tejo and Centro regions of Portugal, and divided between the traditional provinces of Beira Litoral and Estremadura. It borders on the north with district of Coimbra, ...

and in the Arrábida Natural Park. It lives in woods and cliffs along the coast, but also ''Quercus'' forests ('' Quercus rotundifolia'' and ''

Quercus suber ''Quercus suber'', commonly called the cork oak, is a medium-sized, evergreen oak tree in the section ''Quercus'' sect. ''Cerris''. It is the primary source of cork for wine bottle stoppers and other uses, such as cork flooring and as the core ...

'') more inland, from sea level to altitude and prefers

limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...

substrates.

Threats

It is mainly threatened by quarries, urbanisation, industrial or commercial areas, communication networks, trampling, overuse and natural fires.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2752746 densus Endemic flora of Portugal Flora of Portugal Endemic flora of the Iberian Peninsula Plants described in 1852