Canary Broom (Cytisus canariensis (L.) Kuntze Fabaceae)

Abstract

Cytisus canariensis (L.) Kuntze, commonly known as Canary Island Bloom (Figure 21.1), is known for its characteristically yellow flowers. It is a coastal plant and an endemic of the Canary Islands. This archipelago is com posed of seven islands, namely, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro, close to West Coast of Morocco (Chaachouay et al., 2019). Though being autonomous communities of Spain, the plant has been introduced to continental Europe and beyond. It is a member of the pea family, also known as legumes. In spite of its long- standing history as a hallucinogen, it is currently being investigated as a viable alternative to tobacco or as a supplementary component to mitigate the inhalation of tobacco by individuals who smoke. When consumed in the form of cigarettes, G. canariensis exhibits effects that are comparable to, or somewhat less intense than, those of tobacco cigarettes. The observed aftertaste of electronic cigarettes is characterized by its sweetness, in contrast to the mildly bitter aftertaste com monly associated with traditional tobacco cigarettes (Fadiman, 1965).