Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Ononis spinosa

Family

Fabaceae

Flowering season

July to September

English distribution

It is found in most of the country but is absent from the far

Southwest and parts of the North, the North Midlands and

the Southeast.

See the BSBI distribution map for Spiny Restharrow

Habitat

It grows on rough, nutrient-poor calcareous grassland.

It may be declining.

Description

Spiny Restharrow is a native, erect, spiny, woody, nitrogen-

fixing, perennial herb or small shrub, growing up to 60cm.

The flowers are up to 2cm, rose-pink and with the wings

shorter than the keel.

The leaves are narrow and glandular.

The spines are stiff and sharp.

The stems are woody, erect and hairy.

Common Restharrow is on the website in June.