# Spiny restharrow (*Ononis spinosa*)

The Spiny Restharrow is a prickly plant that grows close to the ground. It has beautiful pink flowers that bloom in the summer, attracting butterflies and bees!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Spiny restharrow](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1150095/medium.jpg)

Photo: Nuuuuuuuuuuul, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/1150095)

## Appearance

The Spiny restharrow is a low-growing plant with woody, thorny stems and small, bright pink, pea-like flowers. Its numerous sharp spines make it easily distinguishable from other wild plants in grasslands. The leaves are small and often have tiny hairs.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Fabales
- **Family:** Fabaceae
- **Genus:** Ononis

## Interesting facts

- Despite its thorns, this plant is a favorite snack for many caterpillars and beetles!
- Its beautiful pink flowers are shaped just like tiny butterflies getting ready to fly!
- People once used Spiny restharrow roots to make a foamy, soap-like substance for washing!
- This plant's name means it 'stops the plough' because its tough roots snag farm tools!

## Special abilities

- **Thorn Shield:** Spiny restharrow has sharp thorns along its stems that help it defend against hungry animals trying to eat its leaves and flowers.
- **Deep Root Explorer:** Spiny restharrow can grow incredibly long taproots deep into the soil to find water, helping it survive dry conditions.
- **Nitrogen Fixer:** Like other pea family plants, Spiny restharrow can enrich the soil by capturing nitrogen from the air.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its flowers for sweet nectar.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Helps carry pollen between plants.
- **Eaten by:** Domestic sheep (*Ovis aries*) — Graze on its young shoots and leaves.
- **Eaten by:** [European rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — Nibbles on its foliage in pastures.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
- [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Be careful of the sharp spines when touching this plant.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Spiny restharrow?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Spiny restharrow?

10-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Spiny restharrow?

1-1.5 cm

### When does Spiny restharrow bloom?

Summer

### Is Spiny restharrow edible?

Yes

### Is Spiny restharrow toxic?

Mild

### What is Spiny restharrow's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Spiny restharrow pollinated?

Insect

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Spiny restharrow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spiny-restharrow)