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Proboscidea louisianica ssp. louisianica,
Picture Canyon, Comanche National Grassland, Baca Co. 9700

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Proboscidea louisianica ssp. louisianica,
Picture Canyon, Comanche National Grassland, Baca Co. 9739

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Proboscidea louisianica ssp. louisianica,
Picture Canyon, Comanche National Grassland, Baca Co. 9732

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. louisiana

Map Color Key
Colorado Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2024

Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains