''Ononis'' is a large
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
perennial
In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...
herbs and shrubs from the
legume family
Fabaceae. The members of this genus are often called restharrows or wrestharrows as some species grow as weeds on arable lands whose tough stems would stop the
harrow. They are natively distributed in Europe.
In
herbalism restharrow is used to treat bladder and kidney problems and water retention.
The
active ingredients in restharrow are
essential oils,
flavonoid-
glycosides, and
tannins.
Restharrows are used as food plants by the
larvae of some
Lepidoptera species including the
grey pug and ''
Coleophora ononidella'' (which feeds exclusively on ''O. arvensis'').
Species of ''Ononis''
The genus ''Ononis'' includes the following accepted species:
* ''
Ononis adenotricha''
Boiss.
* ''
Ononis alba''
Poir.
* ''
Ononis alopecuroides''
L., foxtail restharrow
* ''
Ononis angustissima''
Lam.
* ''
Ononis antiquorum''
L.
* ''
Ononis arvensis''
L., field restharrow
* ''
Ononis avellana''
Pomel
* ''
Ononis baetica''
Clemente
* ''
Ononis biflora''
Desf.
* ''
Ononis cossoniana''
Boiss. & Reut.
* ''
Ononis cristata''
Mill.
* ''
Ononis euphrasiifolia''
Desf.
* ''
Ononis fruticosa''
L.
* ''
Ononis inermis''
Pall.
* ''
Ononis mitissima''
L.
* ''
Ononis natrix''
L., large yellow restharrow
* ''
Ononis ornithopodioides''
L.
* ''
Ononis pubescens''
L.
* ''
Ononis pusilla''
L.
* ''
Ononis reclinata''
L., small restharrow
* ''
Ononis repens''
L., common restharrow
* ''
Ononis rotundifolia''
L.
* ''
Ononis serrata''
Forssk.
* ''
Ononis sicula''
Guss.
* ''
Ononis speciosa''
Lag.
* ''
Ononis spinosa''
L., spiny restharrow
* ''
Ononis subspicata''
Lag.
* ''
Ononis tridentata''
L.
* ''
Ononis vaginalis''
Vahl
* ''
Ononis variegata''
L.
* ''
Ononis viscosa''
L.
References
External links
Medicinal uses of ''O. arvensis'' in Armenia
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Fabaceae genera
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