Prickly Scorpionstail
Scorpiurus muricatus

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A low sprawling annual herb. It has simple leaves. The leaves are oval but broadest above the middle. They often have 3 prominent parallel veins. The flowers are yellow and can have red or purple spots. They are 5-10 mm long. They are in long stalked clusters of 2-5 flowers. The fruit are curled pods. They are 30-50 mm long. Sometimes these have long slender processes on them.

There are 2 Scorpiurus species.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in fields and waste places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Europe, France, Greece, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, North Africa, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

The young pods are eaten as a vegetable. The young leaves are used in stews and raw in salads. They are also boiled and then fried.

Edible parts

Seeds pod, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Elkemwa, Gulaxazem-xazemoka, Kelwet larneb, Oreja de liebre

Synonyms

Scorpiurus echinatus Lam.; Scorpiurus subvillosus L.; and others