ONONIS MITISSIMA

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

Common Names:- Mediterranean restharrow

Homotypic Synonyms:- Ononis natrix ssp. hispanica, Ononis hispanica ssp.

hispanica

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

Dioscorides.

Spinosa (L) Spiny, with spines.

Mitissima (L) Most gentle or mild

General description:- Erect or procumbent annual.

Stems:-

1) 15-60 cm, somewhat densely tomentose or nearly glabrous.

Leaves:-

1) 3-foliolate, leaflets, 10-20 mm, obovate or elliptical, sometimes caducous.

Flowers:-

1) Short pedicellate, borne singly at each node, in a dense terminal raceme.

2) Floral bracts, reduced but with large, scarious, whitish stipules.

3) Calyx-tube, glabrous, with very prominent white veins,

a) teeth, margin glandular-ciliate.

4) Corolla, 10-12 mm, pink, exceeding the calyx.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, 5-6 mm, ovate.

2) Seeds, 2-3, 1·5-2 mm, dark brown, spinulose.

Key features:-

1) Upper leaves, and lower bracts, 3-foliolate.

2) Corolla, 10-12 mm, exceeding the calyx.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Open shrubby vegetation, olive groves, field margins, occasionally in

maritime sand. 0-700 m.

Distribution:- Scattered in coastal areas of W. Greece and throughout the

Mediterranean region. Very rare on Crete previously known from only four locations.

Flowering time:- Apr-June

Photos by:- Steve Lenton