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Proboscidea
Also called Unicorn-plant, Devilsclaw
Proboscidea is a genus of desert annuals in the family Martyniaceae, with species called devil's claw or unicorn plant. Its long, hooked seed pods catch on animal feet and spread the seeds, and the commonly grown members are sprawling, sun-loving plants that thrive in warm, dry, well-drained ground.
Proboscidea is a genus of flowering plant in the family Martyniaceae, some of whose species are known as devil's claw, devil's horn, ram's horn, or unicorn plant. The plants produce long, hooked seed pods. The hooks catch on the feet of animals, and as the animals walk, the pods are ground or crushed open, dispersing the seeds. The name devil's claw is shared with the South African plant Harpagophytum procumbens.
The fruits of all species are edible before they ripen and become woody. They can be steamed and eaten much like okra. Some species (particularly Proboscidea parviflora) are used in basket weaving by the Tohono O'odham who have selected for varieties with longer "claws." The Chemehuevi also use devil's claw pods in basketry. The Hia C-eḍ Oʼodham and the Tohono O'odham eat the seeds, which provided an important source of dietary oils. Proboscidea parviflora was also used as a remedy for rheumatism.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Proboscidea (plant) by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
