Ononis
Ononis alopecuroides
restharrow
foxtail restharrow
ascending, erect, procumbent, or decumbent, ± pubescent throughout [rarely glabrescent], hairs simple, glandular.
decumbent, ascending, or erect;
thorns absent.
alternate, odd-pinnate;
stipules present, often leafy, adnate to petiole much of their lengths [rarely stipules fused];
petiolate;
leaflets 1 or 3[or 5], blade margins usually serrulate, at least distally, rarely entire, surfaces pubescent;
terminal blade larger than laterals.
usually 1 (sometimes 3 distally and in inflorescences), blades elliptic, oblong-elliptic, or elliptic-orbiculate, (10–)20–50 × 5–30 mm.
dense.
1–3-flowered, terminal, leafy, racemes [spikes or panicles];
bracts present.
papilionaceous;
calyx campanulate or tubular, lobes 5, ± subequal;
corolla usually pink or purple, sometimes white [variegated or yellow];
stamens 10, monadelphous (at least basally);
anthers dimorphic, alternately basifixed and dorsifixed.
1 per node, subsessile, (9–)13–16 mm;
corolla often pink, sometimes white.
legumes, tan to light brown, subsessile or stipitate, turgid, straight, ovoid or oblong-rhomboid [linear], usually not exceeding calyx, dehiscent, pubescent.
ovoid, 6–10 mm.
1–4[+], spherical or ovoid [reniform, suborbicular], smooth or tuberculate.
2 or 3, ovoid, 2–3 mm, smooth.
= 8.
= 30 (Europe).
Ononis
Ononis alopecuroides
Species ca. 80 (2 in the flora).
Ononis has been considered to be marginally related to Medicago, Melilotus, Trifolium, and Trigonella, which have been interpreted as constituting tribe Trifolieae, sometimes with the addition of Parochetus Buchanan-Hamilton ex D. Don (C. C. Heyn 1981). Ononis is often considered to constitute its own tribe, Ononideae Hutchinson. Molecular (plastid nucleic acid) phylogenetic analyses (M. F. Wojciechowski et al. 2000; K. P. Steele and Wojciechowski 2003; Wojciechowski 2003) have confirmed the close relationship of Medicago, Melilotus, and Trigonella, and also the rather distant relationship of Parochetus from the other genera. These analyses also indicate that Ononis is much closer to this group than hitherto appreciated, and that Trifolium is more closely related to genera of tribe Vicieae. This interpretation of generic relationships suggests that a redefinition of tribal composition is required, and that nomenclaturally the tribal name Trifolieae may need to be abandoned. Before such actions are taken, it is advisable to await additional studies of generic relationships.
Ononis is of limited economic significance, although some species are grown as ornamentals, some are weeds, and some are employed for medicinal purposes. Species of Ononis are sparsely introduced and rarely collected in the flora area.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The first and only report of Ononis alopecuroides in North America is based on a colony discovered in San Luis Obispo county in 1998. Because O. alopecuroides is considered weedy in northern Europe (where it is introduced) and is a potential invasive weed in California, state officials eradicated all plants located in subsequent years, and have maintained an alert for any reoccurrence.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Shrubs (woody basally); stems with or without thorns; seeds tuberculate. | O. spinosa |
1. Herbs; stems without thorns; seeds smooth. | O. alopecuroides |
OR
WA
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
