familyFabaceae
subfamilyFabaceae subfam. Faboideae
genusOnonis
speciesOnonis spinosa
subspeciesOnonis spinosa subsp. hircina
Ononis spinosa subsp. hircina
Ill. Fl. Mitt.-Eur. 4: 1224. 1923.
Common names: Field restharrow
Introduced
Basionym: Ononis hircina Jacquin Hort. Bot. Vindob. 1: 40, plate 93. 1771
Synonyms: O. arvensis Linnaeus
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 11.
Shrubs 30–100 cm; rhizomes absent. Stems ascending or erect; thorns absent. Leaflets mostly 3. Racemes dense. Flowers borne in pairs at nodes, 10–20 mm; corolla pink. Fruits 1–3-seeded, 6–9 mm. 2n = 30 (Europe).
Phenology: Flowering mid–late summer.
Habitat: Ruderal habitats.
Elevation: 0–400 m.
Distribution
Introduced; Alta., N.Y., Oreg., Eurasia.
Discussion
A note on an Alberta specimen of subsp. hircina (G. W. Wheeler NY) states that the plants were brought to Canada about 1940 for medicinal purposes and subsequently became established in the Thorsby area along a stream bank and in roadside ditches.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.