July 26, 2012

Large Yellow Restharrow


A little bush not yet 20 centimeters high, it is easy to miss it. Only when you take the time to really look you notice the Yellow Restharrow (Ononis natrix) has beautiful flowers.



When the butterfly-like flowers open they show fine lines in red on yellow. The greyish down in the picture are the glandulous hairs that cover leaves and stem; if you touch the plant it sticks on your fingers. And you'll discover the smell, a bit nasty. Maybe the rabbits don't like it either!









Restharrows are perennial plants with long and tough roots, farmers don't like to find them in their fields.