Cytisophyllum sessilifolium (= Cytisus sessilifolius) is a deciduous shrub in the family Fabaceae.
The leaves have three ovate, 5-15 mm long leaflets, the central one slightly larger than the lateral ones. The leaves on the lower part of the stem usually have a short petiole, while those that arise from the flowering stems do not; therefore, these are sessile leaves as their specific epithet sessilifolium indicates. The leaves lack from stipules.
In late spring, clusters of orange-yellow flowers, about 1 cm long, appear at the ends of the branches. The calyx is campanulate and open into two lips, the lower one longer than the upper. The flowers develop into a flat, compressed, hairless pod, 20-40 mm long, containing 5-10 small, rounded seeds that are visible backlit.
Cytisophyllum sessilifolium grows in dry oak forests and wet holm oak woodlands. It is a common shrub in Montserrat.
Cytisophyllum sessilifolium looks similar and shares habitat with the scorpion senna (Coronilla emerus). However, Coronilla emerus has imparipinnate leaves with 5 or more leaflets, and its pods are long, narrow, segmented, and pendulous.
[photos Jordi Badia (1st, 2nd and 3rd) and Florenci Vallès (4th)]