Scientific Name | Proboscidea louisianica ssp. louisianica | USDA PLANTS Symbol | PRLOL |
Common Name | Ram's Horn, Common Devil's Claw | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 524593 |
Family | Martyniaceae (Unicorn Plant) | SEINet Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Plains (3500 to 5000 ft.); sandy soils on roadsides and other disturbed places, meadows, streambanks. Plant: Low, spreading, bushy, coarse annual with ascending or upright branches 6 to 24 (or more) inches long; stems are sticky with glandular hairs; plant has a fetid odor. Leaves: Large orbicular-reniform to broadly ovate blades with cordate bases, 1-1/4 to 8 inches long on long petioles; edges are entire or sinuate. Inflorescence: Open racemes with 8 to 20 large flowers; corolla is over 2 inches long and nearly as wide, bell-shaped, dull white or somewhat purplish or mottled with reddish-purple splotches; conspicuous reddish-purple spots and yellow stripes inside the corolla tube. Bloom Period: June to August. Fruit: Stout, fleshy, curved pod up to 4 inches long that splits into two "claws" when it dries. References: Proboscidea louisianica in "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston and Wildflower Center; Proboscidea louisianica ssp. louisianica in SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map Proboscidea louisiana ssp. louisianaMap Color Key |
Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2024
Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains