Ononis repens Common Restharrow CC DD N
This low growing plant is quite common in dune systems and in short grass by the sea but you do find it inland occasionally as well. It can be spiny or not but always has these very characteristic pink flowers.
The common name: Rest-harrow comes form the time when it was a common agricultural weed and the roots were so tough and dense that they would entangle the farmer's harrow pulled by a horse and bring the thing to a halt.
O. repens is found most often near the coast but inland as well in England and southern Scotland. It is commonest in the east in Ireland and is uncommon in central Wales and northern Scotland.
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| Ononis repens Common Restharrow |
Old Colwyn grassland near A55, North Wales 1st July 2008
Added on January 1st 2005, updated 20th January 2011, updated 18th Nov 2014