What is the diference between gorse, broom and whin?

Question

What is the diference between gorse, broom and whin?

Answer 1

Both gorse and whin furze have 'spikes' (thorns), while broom does not.

See this cutting from the OED :

whin furze, gorse. XI. prob. of Scand. orig.; cf. Sw. hven, ODa. hvine, hvinegræs, -strȧ, Norw. hvine, applied to certain grasses. First recorded in place-names of Scandinavianized areas. Hence whinchat bird allied to the stonechat. XVII.

There is a place called Furze Cross in N.Devon : . .

Self-Catering Holiday Cottage Accommodation in North Devon Contact us at - Lerwell Farm Barns & Furze Cross Cottages, Lerwell Farm Furze Cross, Chittlehampton, North Devon EX37 9RL Tel [phone] ...

http://www.holidays-in-north-devon.co.uk...

There are two kinds of broom which I know of.  There is the highly scented variety with bright yellow flowers (April/May) and the other sort with red flowers called butcher's broom.

Both broom varieties (all broom varieties) were/are used to make broom heads, but not of the Welsh type, sometimes called the witches broom, which is usually made of a willow.

Gorse, because of it's spikes, has been used to sheep and cattle enclosures since man started farming here in UK.

Answer 2

Apart from the spelling,Gorse is spiky with yellow flowers,Broom is`nt,with yellow flowers and i have no idea what Whin is.