Schwartzman, Steven
Proboscidea louisianica (P. Mill.) Thellung
Devil's claw, Ram's horn, Unicorn plant, Proboscis flower
Pedaliaceae (Sesame Family)
Ram’s-horn or devil’s claw is a low, spreading, bushy plant, 1-2 ft. tall, with large, long-stemmed, palmately lobed leaves. Leaves, 5-inches across and up to 1 foot long, covered with glandular
nectar which often collects sand particles. Its creamy-yellow, tubular, five-lobed flowers are spotted with purple and appear in few-flowered,
axillary clusters after summer rains. The
fruit is a fleshy, curved
pod that splits into two claws when it dries.
The name unicorn plant refers to the remarkable fruits. These are at first fleshy, the flesh later falling away, leaving an inner woody shell tipped by a long, curved beak (the horn of the unicorn). The beak splits lengthwise, and the shell opens between the two parts of the split beak. These fruits are easily caught on the legs of deer, rabbits, and cattle or hooked in the wool of sheep by their spreading claws (thus the name devils claw). The fruits are collected and used in nature crafts.
Image Gallery:
17 photo(s) available
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Annual Habit: Herb Flower:
Fruit: Size Class: 1-3 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Pink , Yellow , Purple
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CA , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , ID , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MS , MO , NE , NV , NH , NJ , NM , NY , NC , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VT , VA , WA , WV , WY , DC
Native Distribution: Native to TX, Mex. & possibly LA; naturalized in the s.e. and as far n. as ME & MN
Native Habitat: River banks; meadows; waste areas
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(I) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Soil Description: Moist, sandy soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam
Benefit
Use Ornamental: The fruits are collected and used in nature crafts.
Use Food: This plant is often cultivated for the
fruit, which is pickled and eaten like okra.
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Nectar Source: yes
2012-05-11
