The Rest Harrow is to be found in sandy places near the sea, and blooms
all summer.
It belongs to the Pea family, along with the Broom and the Whin. But in
this plant the flower-petals are a beautiful rose-pink colour.
The largest petal, which is called the standard, is streaked with veins
of deep red. The two side petals, or 'wings,' are pale pink, and the tip
of the two 'keel' petals, which are joined together into a little boat
and hide the stamens, is also a deep rose-red.
The flowers have scarcely any stalks. They grow close to the main stem,
in a green calyx-cup edged with five sharp teeth, and there are small
green leaves beside each flower.
These leaves are dark green in front but are much paler behind, and they
have tiny teeth all round the edges.
Sometimes, close to the root, you find leaves which grow in threes, but
oftenest the plant has single oval leaves, and these are always covered
with fine hairs.
The Rest Harrow usually lies close to the ground, but you may find it
growing upright like a small bush.
It has long, tough roots, which creep through the soil, and these are
said to be so strong they will turn aside the harrow when it is drawn
over the field.