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Proboscidea althaeifolia
Proboscidea althaeifolia (Benth.) Decne.
Desert Unicorn-plant, Devil's Claw
Pedaliaceae (Sesame Family)
Synonym(s): Martynia althaeifolia, Martynia arenaria, Proboscidea arenaria
USDA Symbol: PRAL4
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
A coarse plant with stems lying on ground and few yellow, bilaterally symmetrical flowers in racemes.
As the plump fruit matures, it divides into halves and its outer, fleshy layer peels off, revealing the hard inner portion of the fruit, the single horn of which splits into two "devil's claws." There are several species in the Southwest, some with pink or magenta flowers. The dark fibers in the pods are used with fibers of other plants in weaving fine baskets.
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Bloom Information
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , SepDistribution
USA: AZ , CA , NM , TXNative Distribution: Southern California east to western Texas.
Native Habitat: Sandy soil in deserts and arid grasslands.
Additional resources
USDA: Find Proboscidea althaeifolia in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Proboscidea althaeifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Proboscidea althaeifolia
Metadata
Record Modified: 2021-11-08Research By: TWC Staff