Ulex gallii, the western gorse or dwarf furze[2] is an evergreen shrub in the pea family (Fabaceae), native to the Atlantic coasts of western Europe: southern Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, the Isle of Man, western France and the northern coast of Spain.
It favours acidic heathy soils and is frequently found in exposed maritime and montane environments.
The stems are green, and almost wholly replace the leaves as the plant's functioning photosynthetic organs.
The flowers are yellow, 1 to 2 centimetres (0.4 to 0.8 in) long, with the typical pea-flower structure; they are produced principally in the late summer and autumn, rarely before July.
The fruit is a legume (pod), partly enclosed by the pale brown remnants of the flower.