Proboscidea (plant)
Proboscidea fragrans
Proboscidea is a genus of flowering plants in the family of Gemsenhorngewächse ( Martyniaceae ). The eight to ten species are native to North America. The trivial name devil's claw is also used for other plant species and genera.
Description
Appearance and leaves
Proboscidea species grow than once or perennial herbaceous plants. They usually have a strong odor. They form branched or bulbous taproot. The aboveground plant parts are often glandular hairy. The most up to 1 meter long stems are decumbent to spread.
The opposite or alternate arranged leaves are usually long stalks. The simple and hairy leaf blades are broad - ovate or triangular, heart-shaped toothed or lobed and usually Spreitenbasis leaf margins. The leaves are sticky and insects stick to it. Stipules are not available.
Inflorescences and flowers
They form terminal, racemose inflorescence with bracts and two cover pages directly below the bloom.
The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic and fünfzählig double perianth. The five more or less unequal, 1-2 cm long, sepals are fused free or only briefly. The striking five 2-5 cm long petals are fused bell - to funnel-shaped. The most about 1 cm long cylindrical Kronröhren are bent downward, and have a 10 to 30 mm throat. The free part of the crown is two-lipped and five lobes. The throat and lower lip has different colored lines as juice times. From the most four stamens are shorter than the other two. Two carpels are fused to a constant above, unilocular ovary, which is curved. The style ends in a bilobed, flat scar.
Fruit and seeds
The fruit capsules have a 5 to 10 cm long " fruiting body ". The fleshy outer layer falls off. The inner layer is then recognizable woody and has a long, inwardly curved upper end which decomposes at maturity in two hooks. The hooks are one and a half to three times longer than the "fruit body ". The spread of the fruit takes place epizoochor, so the hooks remain in the fur of animals depend. The predominantly black seeds are 8-13 mm in size, angular and corky.
Use
The fruits are edible. Before the fruits are ripe, they can be eaten steamed. Some species (especially Proboscidea parviflora ) are used for basket weaving.
System
The genus Proboscidea was established in 1763 by Casimir Christoph Schmidel Icones Plantarum in, Edition Keller, 49, Table 12-13. Type species is Proboscidea louisiana (Mill.) Wooton & Standlschmaus. with the basionym Martynia louisiana million. Proboscidea The genus name is derived from the Greek clothes means elephant's trunk.
There are about eight to ten Proboscidea species ( selection):
- Proboscidea althaeifolia ( Benth. ) Decne.
- Proboscidea arenaria ( Engelm. ) Decne.
- Proboscidea fragrans ( Lindl. ) Decne.
- Proboscidea louisiana (Mill.) Wooton & Standlschmaus.
- Proboscidea louisianica Thell.
- Proboscidea parviflora ( Wooton ) Wooton & Standlschmaus.
- Proboscidea sabulosa Correll
- Proboscidea spicata Correll
- Proboscidea triloba ( Schltdl. & Cham. ) Decne.
Pictures
Proboscidea parviflora
Fruits
Seed
Fruits, seeds
Var hohokamiana - fruits, seeds
Proboscidea althaeifolia