Yellow bridal broom (Retama sphaerocarpa) is a leafless, deciduous shrub of arid, sandy soils across cold semi-arid interior Spain and North Africa, its green stems carrying out photosynthesis through most of the year. As a legume, it fixes nitrogen through root-nodule symbiosis with soil bacteria. A strong decoction of the plant is used medicinally but can cause vomiting and headaches.