Genista

/dʒɛˈnɪstə/ noun

Definition

A genus of shrubby plants in the legume family, also called broom, with bright yellow flowers and used historically to make dyes.

Etymology

From Latin 'genista', a plant name possibly derived from Celtic sources, used in classical botanical Latin to describe broom plants; the term was formalized in Linnaean taxonomy.

Kelly Says

Medieval monks grew genista to make yellow dye for manuscripts and fabrics, and the plant was so important that a whole royal family—the Angevins—earned the nickname 'Plantagenets' from the Latin 'planta genista' (genista plant) that they wore as a badge!

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