T he seed capsules of devil's claws are clearly adapted for hitchhiking on the hooves of large grazing animals however, with the exception of introduced livestock and people (and possibly desert bighorn sheep), there are few native North American animals living within the present range of devil's claws that are capable of dispersing these large hitchhikers. Dispersal By Big Animals: New World Anachronisms It can also be one of the most painful if you get a claw imbedded in your hand.Ģ. This is one of the world's most durable and ingenious hitchhikers. In addition to the long, curved claws, the capsule body is covered with prickly spines. South American devil's claws ( Ibicella lutea). Plant," referring to the large, hornlike fruit before is has split In the cultures of many Native American tribes of the southwestern United States, and are still used to this day for food and in basketry. The fresh green pods (and dried black seed capsules) were important items Julian Huxley) eloquently describes the hitchhiking pods as "hookers."
In hisįascinating book, Plants and Planet (1974), Anthony Huxley (son of Sheep ranchers because they get entangled in the fleece. In some areas of the southwestern United States they are a nuisance to
They are also called "elephant tusks" and readilyĬling to the hooves of grazing animals or your shoes if you happen to EachĬapsule contains about 40 black seeds which are gradually released when Which splits open at one end into two curved horns or claws. Sinister common name of "devil's claw" refers to the inner woody capsule T he devil's claw fruit is technically a drupaceousĬapsule with a woody inner part surrounded by a fleshy layer. They produce strange seed pods that attach to the feet and legs of large animals, and include some of the largest hitchhiker fruits in the world.ĭevil's claws ( Proboscidea louisianica ssp. Wildflowers in North America, but some of the loveliest and most T here are literally thousands of species of beautiful
Devil's Claws In Banner Creek, California.Devil's Claws In Death Valley, California.Use Of Devil's Claws By Native Americans.Dispersal Of Devil's Claws By Big Animals.Original Citation: WAYNE'S WORD Volume 8 (Number 1) Spring 1999ĭevil's Claws: Hitchhikers On Big Animals
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