Wild Liquorice. Cammock. Stinking Tommy. Ground Furze. Land Whin.
Family :
Leguminosae
Parts Used :
Whole herb.
Description :
A troublesome weed, with a root that affords a sweet, viscid juice. Common in arable land. Its long, thicklymatted root will arrest the progress of the harrow, hence its name.
It is a favourite food of the donkey, from which the generic name is derived, onos being the Greek word for an ass.
A tradition exists that this was the plant from which the crown of thorns was plaited for the Crucifixion.
The plant is obnoxious to snakes.
Uses :
The young shoots were much used at one time as a vegetable, being boiled, eaten in salad or pickled.
In medicine it was used for stone in the bladder and to subdue delirium.
