Common gorse vs Western Gorse

Ulex europaeus compared with Ulex gallii

Key Differences

• Common gorse is Least Concern while Western Gorse is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common gorse	Western Gorse
Kingdom same	Plantae (พืช)	Plantae (พืช)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (พืชใบเลี้ยงคู่)	Magnoliopsida (พืชใบเลี้ยงคู่)
Order same	Fabales (อันดับถั่ว)	Fabales (อันดับถั่ว)
Family same	Fabaceae	Fabaceae
Genus same	Ulex	Ulex
Species	Ulex europaeus	Ulex gallii

Evolutionary Relationship

Common gorse and Western Gorse share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Ulex.

Conservation Status

Common gorse

LC — Least Concern

Western Gorse

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common gorse	Western Gorse
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common gorse

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and deserts and xeric shrublands, among 8 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (4 countries), Asia (8 countries), Europe (15 countries), North America (6 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand), and South America (8 countries).

Western Gorse

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries).

Common gorse

<em>Ulex europaeus</em>, commonly known as common gorse, is a spiny evergreen shrub belonging to the genus Ulex within the legume family Fabaceae. The species occupies a remarkable breadth of habitat types, including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, dry broadleaf forests, and deserts and xeric shrublands, among at least eight recognized biome categories. Its global range is exceptionally wide, spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America, with records from numerous countries on each continent. Notably introduced and sometimes invasive outside its European origin, common gorse typically colonizes disturbed lands, heathlands, and coastal scrub. The species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden