Proboscidea althaeifolia

Common Name: Devilˊs Claw, Desert Unicorn Plant
Oˊodham Name: Ban Iˊhug Audio
Group: Annuals － Desert

Description

Proboscidea althaeifolia grows from a large tap root that lives below ground all year except during the Monsoon. As soon as the humidity and soil moisture rise, it sprouts and quickly produces a low mound of glossy, green to olive colored leaves. The fragrant flowers are about 2 inches long and yellow to light orange in color. These are followed by fruit 6 to 8 inches long. In September, the fruit dry and dehisce (split lengthwise). This species grows in sandy soils between 1000 and 5000 ft. The Oˊodham cultivate a larger form of Devilˊs Claw which has a purple-flower.

Classification

Kingdom Plantae － Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta － Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta － Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta － Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida － Dicotyledons

Subclass Asteridae

Order Scrophulariales

Family Pedaliaceae － Sesame family

Genus Proboscidea Schmidel － unicorn-plant

Species Proboscidea althaeifolia (Benth.) Decne. － desert unicorn-plant

More Information

USDA Plant Profile and Map