Cytisus battandieri Maire) Provence broom or Spanish Gold Hardy Broom ( Cytisus purgans (L.) Boiss.) Portuguese broom ( Cytisus multiflorus (L'Hér.) Sweet), French broom ( Genista monspessulana (L.) Johnson) etc. Genista juncea (L.) Scop.), also known as Weaver's broom Scotch broom ( Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link) Atlas broom (or Moroccan broom or Pineapple broom) ( Argyrocytisus battandieri (Maire) C. In different parts of the world, the plants used for brooms are called after the name of the relevant country or region: Spanish broom ( Spartium junceum L., syn. The Latin specific name "scoparius' means broom-like. The plants belonging to these genera show similar dense aerial parts, very small leaves and slender green stems. Some shrubs (evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous) from the Fabaceae family – mainly Chamaecytisus, Cytisus and Genista species – are commonly referred to as brooms in Western Europe. Planting raw material and broom manufacture continue in present days.Ī broom is a cleaning tool consisting of stiff fibres attached to (and roughly parallel to) a cylindrical handle – broomstick. Together with the use of technical instruments for cleaning streets and yards, brooms are still in use. This knowledge was passed on from generation to generation and so came to us.įor economic reasons, keeping cleanness in houses, areas around houses, farmyards, streets, etc. But since ancient times people's ambition to create better and better brooms has brought rich experience of used plants and brooms. Unfortunately, dust and ashes are part of life and perfect brooms do not exist. The broom was an important tool in keeping the living area clean. For a long period (before the 18th century), brooms were domestically produced and hand-made of tree branches, brushes, etc. The field of study of plants used in household products is one of the most interesting ones and it is not always easy for species to be identified.įor centuries the brooms have been used for cleaning houses, ovens, fireplaces, yards, streets, as ritual tools as well as for some special functions. The interest and knowledge of plants used by native people, called ethnobotany, have increased in recent years, and there is a lot of information throughout the world. The data about the variety of plants traditionally used to make brooms and the ways in which they are used according to the specific characteristics of the areas are important for ethnobotanical knowledge. ConclusionĬollected data show how ecological, geographical features and different cultures are related with the variety of plants traditionally used as brooms as well as details for their uses. The relations between the plant characteristics and broom specific shape and working qualities, details of the traditionally broom planting and making, the broom as a part of folklore, traditions and religious rituals are discussed. The investigation includes data about scientific name, family, vernacular name, life form, status (wild or cultivated), used parts and place of use. A high species diversity of 106 taxa of vascular plants, belonging to 37 families and 74 genera, is established in the research area. The list includes two fungi taxa which caused the so-called "Witches' brooms". The total number of species as brooms in the study areas is about 108. A brief questionnaire, referring to the vernacular name, plant description, providing specimens from the plants and brooms, details on their use has been prepared and applied. The information was gathered largely from literature as well as field collected data and interviewed informants.
The data are collected mainly from Bulgaria and Italy and are compared with those from Macedonia and Romania. The research was carried out within the course of two years (2005–2006) in four countries from southern, southeast and eastern parts of Europe: Bulgaria, Italy, Macedonia and Romania.
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