The genus Retama (Fabaceae) includes about four endemic species of the Mediterranean Basin: Retama monosperma (L.) Boiss., Retama raetam (Forsk.) Webb., Retama sphaerocarpa Boiss., and Retama dasycarpa Coss. (Greuter and Raabe-Straube, 1981). It has been reported that the genus Retema, popularly called in English under the name of the white broom or the white weeping broom, was traditionally utilized by the population in many parts of the Mediterranean Basin to treat healing in circumcisions, Rheumatism, Skin disease, Eczema, Emetic, Diabetes, and Antiseptic. Moreover, it is sedative in local wound care, skin ulcers, and vulnerary (Bellakhdar., 1997).

Basionym: = Spartium monospermum L.