Spiny restharrow
Ononis spinosa

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 60 cm tall. It has thorns or spines. The leaves are alternate and have 3 leaflets. The flowers are pea like and pale purple. It is a legume and produces nodules. The fruit is a pod with one seed. The seeds are kidney shaped. The seeds can be green, brown or black. They have a rough surface.

Where it is found

It is a temperate or Mediterranean plant. It grows in chalk and limestone grassland. It is usually in dry stony ground. It is best with well-drained soil. It needs a sunny position. It is hardy to hardiness zone 6.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belgium, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Africa, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The young shoots are cooked as a vegetable. The roots are chewed for their liquorice like flavour. The flowers are eaten raw as a decoration on salads.

Edible parts

Shoots, root, flowers, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gladisika, Kayışkıran, Navadni gladež, Zecju trn

Synonyms

Ononis repens L. subsp. spinosa Greuter; Ononis vulgaris Rouy;