Common Devil’s claw
Proboscidea louisianica

Family: Martyniaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It is a soft stemmed plant. It grows 30-90 cm high. It branches to spread over a metre across. The leaves are like pumpkin leaves. The leaves are large and 30 cm long by 12 cm across. They are covered with glandular nectar. The plant produces a slimy exudate. The flowers are tube shaped and purplish with yellow mottling inside. They are 3-6 cm long. They often have green, purple or violet spots. The plant has a bad scent. The fruit is a tear shaped capsule. It has a green outer husk. The fruit are fleshy at first. Later the inner woody shell remains and it has a long curved beak. These capsule turn yellow to black at maturity. The capsules have rough grooves at the base. They are 10-17 cm long. The beak eventually splits open and the shell opens.

Where it is found

It needs warmth and sun. It can grow in warm temperate and tropical places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Britain, Central America, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, North America, Pacific, Slovenia, South America, USA

How it is used for food

The young pods are pickled in vinegar and eaten. They can also be sliced and added to soups as thickening. The cooked leaves and roasted seed are also eaten. The seeds also yield an edible oil.

Edible parts

Seeds, pods, leaves, fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Cuerno de toro, Louisianska samorogovka, Purple flowered Devil’s Claw, Ram’s horn, Unicorn plant

Synonyms

Proboscidea jussieui Steud.; Proboscidea probiscidea; Martynia louisianica Mill.; Martynia proboscidea Gloxin;