Common Restharrow

Ononis repens

Plant Data

Order:

Fabales

Family:

Fabaceae (Pea)

Flowering Months:

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Flowers:

Pink pea-like flowers borne in leafy spikes.

Fruit:

A linear seed pod (legume) containing 1 to 3 seeds.

Leaves:

The leaves are stalked and alternately arranged along the stems. They are compound leaves with 1 to 3 serrated, round to elliptical leaflets. The terminal leaflet is stalked. Large stipules are present at the bases of the leaves.

Maximum Size:

60cm tall.

Foraging Notes:

The leaves and roots can be eaten, raw or cooked. The roots make a good licorice substitute.
Never consume a wild plant unless you are 100% certain that it is safe to eat and you know that you have identified it correctly.

Aroma:

The flowers are not scented but the hairs on the leaves give out a resinous smell when bruised or damaged.

Other Names:

Cammock, Land Whin, Petty Whin, Wild Liquorice, Wild Liquorice Root.

Habitats:

Grassland, meadows, roadsides, saltmarshes, sand dunes, scrub, seaside, wasteland.