ONONIS, RESTHARROW; a genus of the decandria order, belonging to the diadelphia class of plants. There are a number of different species; but the most
remarkable is the arvensis or cammock, growing in barren pastures in several parts of Scotland and England. The stalks recline towards the ground; are tough and branched, and have a red hairy bark. The flowers are red, and come out from the aize of the branches. As the plant grows old, the branches are all terminated by a sharp woody spine; in which state several authors, among whom is Dr Withering, have described it as a distinct species. The smooth sort is sometimes pickled as samphire. The whole plant is diuretic, and has been recommended in cases of jaundice and gravel. The plant abounds in Palestine; whence Mr Hasselquist conjectures (very probably according to Mr Lightfoot) that it is the thorn mentioned in the Scripture which the ground produced after the curse.