Ononis spinosa Spiny Restharrow

Ononis spinosa, Spiny Restharrow, is very similar to Common Restharrow (Ononis repens) and may only represent a form of it. The occurrrence of spines is not a safe definitive character that separates them and stem hairyness may simply be an ecotypic feature. In its most extreme form, Spiny Restharrow is a steppe species which grows in dry, well-drained grassy soils . It has an eastern distribution in Britain and is very rare in Wales where it has often been confused with robust, spiny forms of Common Restharrow and therefore many identifications are unsafe. There have been a few records of Spiny Restharrow in West Glamorgan, but all should be treated with caution. Populations in east Wales (e.g. Monmouthshire) conform more closely to the definitive form of Spiny Restharrow (see photo).

Native