0141 



SHRUBBY RESTHARROW. 



Family: LEGUMINOSAE. 



Reproductive system: DlADELPHY, DECANDRY. 



The shrubby restharrow, Ononis fruticosa, LINN., is a bush that grows two or 

 three feet high. It has a whitish or ash-colored woody stem with leaves along its entire 

 length. The petioles are very short and are surrounded by a stipule shaped like a sheath. 

 The leaves consist of three or more almost sessile leaflets that are lanceolate, rather 

 narrow, smooth, green, and serrate. The red flowers are arranged two or three together on 

 each peduncle and form beautiful clusters at the tops of the stems. The calyx is a single 

 unit and has five divisions. The papilionaceous corolla has a rounded, oval standard, 

 narrow obtuse wings, and an oval carina. The ten stamens have nine of their filaments 

 joined together; the tenth is separate. The superior ovary is topped by a style with a 

 simple stigma. It becomes a short inflated pod with one compartment containing several 

 seeds. 



FLOWERS: from June until October. 

 RANGE: the mountains of Dauphine. 



Nomenclature. English, purple-flower'd shrubby restharow . German, 

 strauchartige Hauhechel, wild. In France it's been given the common name arrete-boeaf 

 because several species of this same genus, although they are merely grasses, 

 nevertheless spread widely and put down sturdy roots that greatly inconvenience 

 plowmen [see translator \s note on arrete-boeuf above]. 



USES. This shrub belongs to a genus of plants that are almost all herbaceous. 

 Duhamel [Translator's note: Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau, 1700-1782, 

 distinguished French botanist, writer, and Inspector General of the French navy] says it 

 ought to be grown around the borders of springtime groves because in full bloom it 

 makes an attractive display. The root is thought to be a laxative. 



