ONONIS SPINOSA subsp. DIACANTHA

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE/Sect. ONONIS

Common Names:- Spiny rest-harrow

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Ononis (Gr) A classical name used by the Greek physician

Dioscorides.

Spinosa (L) Spiny, with spines.

Diacantha (Gr) Double thorned.

General description:- Erect or spreading subshrub

Stems:-

1) 20-60 cm tall, not rooting at the nodes, usually sparsely glandular-pubescent

throughout. Lateral twigs transformed into sharp spines.

Leaves:-

1) 3-foliolate or the upper 1-foliolate.

2) Leaflets, 6-10 mm, sometimes less, very varied in shape, edges slightly

serrated.

Flowers:-

1) Usually solitary, axillary, forming a lax raceme.

2) Bracts, usually 1-foliolate.

3) Calyx, glandular-pubescent, and shortly hirsute at the mouth.

4) Corolla, 6-20 mm, pink or purple, occasionally white, usually much exceeding

the calyx.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, 6-10 mm, 2-4 seeded.

2) Seeds, 2 mm, brown or blackish, tuberculate, rarely smooth.

Key features:-

1) Stems, usually erect or ascending, not rooting.

2) Leaflets, obtuse or acute.

3) Plant, usually spiny.

4) Flowers, usually borne singly at each node of the raceme.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Stony slopes, meadows, scrub, open woodland. 0-1200(-1600) m.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece, - Widespread in Europe, the Mediterranean

region and through Anatolia to W Syria and N Iran. Widespread on Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-Aug. occasionally later.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton