The Gorse

-Botanical

Latin name: Ulex
It does exist 20 different species of gorses, living in Europe and North Africa. 7 of these species live especially in Europe, and are assembled until the common name of European Gorse (Ulex Europaeus). This kind of gorse comes from Western Europe, Scotland and Portugal.
The Gorse is a bushing shrub, which can grow most of time between 1 and 2 meters high. Its branches are covered by thorns, which create a very dense plant. Its little leaves are prickly too.
Flowers are yellow, and smell coconut when they are exposed to the sun. They appear in May, or later in summer.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Ohn
Letter in the Ogham: O

The Gaul Goddess On-Niona, whose the cult was celebrated in Ash tree groves, had her name created with Onn (Gorse) and Nion (Ash).
Some believes about the Gorse was born because of its place of living, most of time in moors, a worrying place next to the sky.

-Healing

We have no information about the properties of this plant, but its seeds are poisonous.

-Physical uses

Thanks to its strong thorns, the Gorse is very efficient to create barriers, and to surround the fields where cattle are.
In the past, it was used by poor peasants to be burn in the fireplace, when it was dry. In Brittany, people used also the Gorse as feed for the cattle, after crushing it.