Gorse

Gorse is a major symbol in the Garlands of Thorn and May series, where it is generally termed whin or furze. It also pops up from time to time in the Fairy in the Bed series. For my work in progress, though, my protagonist Xanthe has a close and painful encounter with the plant. I wrote about the prickles and then stopped to think... does gorse have prickles? Roses have prickles (not thorns, botanically speaking) but what about gorse? I looked it up. It has spines. So that's official. Next time you encounter this pretty, perfumed but inhospitable shrub, take comfort in the thought it cannot prickle you. It can only spine you. Oh. wait...