Devil's Claws

Major Topics To Be Discussed:

   A Brief Introduction To Devil's Claws
   Dispersal Of Devil's Claws By Big Animals
   Devil's Claw Species In The Americas
   Use Of Devil's Claws By Native Americans
   Devil's Claws In Death Valley, California
   Devil's Claws In Banner Creek, California
   Cultivation Of Devil's Claws
   Where To Purchase Devil's Claws
   References About Devil's Claws

There are literally thousands of species of beautiful wildflowers in North America, but some of the loveliest and most interesting are called devil's claws. 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.

The 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. It is possible that the range of some large North American grazers, such as antelope, bison, deer and elk once overlapped the range of devil's claws thousands of years ago. It is also possible that devil's claw dispersal by grazing mammals may be a North and South American anachronism, or an occurrence that is out of its proper time in history. During the past one million years of the Pleistocene Epoch, the Americas were rich in large mammals (such as giant ground sloths) which are now extinct. Assuming devil's claw plants existed over 600,000 years ago, were some of these ancient mammals the true carriers of these hitchhiker pods? A similar anachronism occurs in the New World tropics of Central and South America, where the natural dispersal agent for some large seed pods are unknown.

With the exception of introduced cattle, donkeys and horses, no native mammals of the New World tropics can crush the hard, thick-walled pods of many rain forest trees in their jaws. Livestock apparently like the sweet pulp inside the pods of West Indian locust (Hymenaea courbaril) and disperse the hard, viable seeds in their excrement. In areas without livestock, the rotting pods litter the ground beneath large trees. Agoutis, tapirs and peccaries chew open the rotting pods and eat the sweet pulp and seeds, but are not major agents of seed dispersal like the larger hoofed mammals. According to the authority on Central American rain forests, Daniel H. Janzen (Science Vol. 215, 1982), large grazing mammals, including extinct pleistocene elephants called gomphotheres, may have once eaten the pods and dispersed the seeds in lowland forests. In Africa, the large woody pods of related species are quickly devoured by large herbivores. There are other Central American rain forest trees that also appear to be missing their natural herbivorous dispersal agents. Their hard, woody, indehiscent fruits pile up beneath the branches and slowly rot away in the soggy, moldy layer of soil and debris. The lack of natural dispersal agents may also apply to devil's claw pods that litter the ground in temperate regions of the New World.

There are actually two species of devil's claws native to the southwestern United States, an attractive pink-flowered annual (Proboscidea parviflora ssp. parviflora) and a brilliant yellow-flowered perennial (P. althaeifolia). Both species form sprawling, pumpkin-like plants with clammy, sticky foliage during the hot summer months, long after most other wildflowers have bloomed and gone to seed. The generic name Proboscidea is derived from the Greek word proboskis, referring to the long beak or horn of the fruit. One plant may produce 50 or more of the curious pods which ripen by late summer and early fall. They belong to the martynia family (Martyniaceae), a small family comprising three genera and a dozen species, mostly of warm subtropical and desert regions of North America. The martynia family is closely related to the bignonia family (Bignoniaceae) and the blossoms of devil's claw plants are strikingly similar to those of Catalpa, Jacaranda and Bignonia. Several species of bees frequent the fragrant blossoms, which often have bright yellow nectar guide lines and reddish-purple flecks along the inner corolla tube. The two-lipped thigmotropic (contact movement) stigma of some species closes with the slightest touch, presumably capturing pollen as in several species of related wildflowers including Mimulus and Diplacus. In fact, Proboscidea annuals in cultivation readily cross pollinate, resulting in an interesting array of intermediate floral characteristics.

Several additional annual species of devil's claw in three different genera are naturalized or cultivated in the Pacific states. Proboscidea louisianica ssp. louisianica has large pinkish-white flowers and is native to the southern United States. It is sometimes grown in gardens, but the strongly-scented foliage is considered unpleasant and "overpowering" to some gardeners. Proboscidea louisianica ssp. fragrans, a similar devil's claw from Texas and northeastern Mexico with beautiful violet to reddish- purple flowers, is also grown in summer gardens. A robust, yellow- flowered species, Ibicella lutea (Proboscidea lutea), is occasionally naturalized in the Central Valley of California. It is native and cultivated for food in several countries of South America, from Brazil to Argentina. The dried seed capsule of the latter species is unique among devil's claw plants because the body is covered with short, prickly spines, thus making it a doubly effective hitchhiker. The generic name Ibicella is appropriately derived from ibex, a Himalayan mountain goat with magnificent curved horns.

Many native plants have been used extensively by indigenous people, but one of the most amazing is the devil's claw. By far the most widely used and highly prized species is the large-fruited, pink-flowered annual Proboscidea parviflora ssp. parviflora. Peter Bretting of Indiana University (Amer. Jour. Botany Vol. 69, 1982) has named two varieties of the pink-flowered devil's claw, a wild black-seeded type (P. parviflora ssp. parviflora var. parviflora) and a domesticated white-seeded race (P. parviflora ssp. parviflora var. hohokamiana). The white-seeded cultivar (var. hohokamiana) has been cultivated for generations on several Native American rancherias in Arizona for its superior basket-making qualities. Known as 'ihug (pronounced EE-hook), the striking seed capsules may have claws up to 15 inches (38 cm) long. Multiclawed forms of both varieties were also selected because the horns split into 3-4 claws. According to Native American folk lore, multiclawed pods were avoided by some basket makers because of the increased likelihood of having twins. Like the famous rugs and blankets of the Navajo, baskets of the Papago are well-known for their durability, beauty and intricate designs. The four basic colors in the baskets are white, black, green and red. White is from sun-bleached dried yucca leaves (often from Yucca elata), while green is from unbleached dried yucca leaves. A red dye obtained from yucca roots is sometimes used to color the leaves. Narrow strips of yucca leaves are tightly wound around slender, fibrous bundles of beargrass leaves (often from Nolina microcarpa) producing the unique coils of the baskets. If you look closely between the coils of yucca leaves you can see the bundles of beargrass leaves.

When dried the devil's claw seed capsules look as though they were sprayed with flat black paint. Claws gathered for basketry were sometimes buried to preserve the dark black color. The dried capsules are soaked in water and the long, curved claws are split lengthwise into narrow strips. The pliable black strips (like strips of black leather) are tightly coiled around bundles of beargrass leaves to produce the dark patterns. Since the black color is part of the actual capsule, and not a dye, it will last indefinitely and makes a striking contrast with the white yucca leaves. The closeness of weave and the elaborate designs obtained by alternating strands of white yucca leaves with strands of black devil's claws are quite remarkable.

General structure of a devil's claw basket. The primary coils are made from slender, fibrous bundles of beargrass leaves (often Nolina microcarpa). Secondary coils are made from narrow strips of yucca leaves which are tightly wound around the slender beargrass bundles. White secondary coils are from sun-bleached dried yucca leaves (often Yucca elata), while green coils are from unbleached dried yucca leaves. Pliable black strips of devil's claw horns are tightly coiled around the beargrass leaves to produce the dark patterns.

Other tribes of southwestern Native Americans, such as the Pima, Havasupai, Apache, Yavapai, Chemehuevi, Hopi, Shoshone and Paiute utilized strips of devil's claws for black designs in their baskets. Depending on the tribe and availability of plant materials, strips of stems from willow (Salix), cottonwood (Populus), rush (Juncus), or squaw bush (Rhus trilobata) were used in place of yucca leaves, and strips of stems from cattail (Typha), tule (Scirpus) or willow were used in place of beargrass leaves. In his fascinating book entitled The Basket Weavers of Arizona (1954), Bert Robinson describes a plausible origin for devil's claws in Pima basketry: "In all probability, the first baskets made by the Pimas were woven entirely of willow or cottonwood, but the sharp sand around the cooking fire soon cut out the stitches on the surface exposed to the ground, especially if the basket was heavily laden. It is possible the ancient basket weaver, seeking something that would withstand more wear, found that the devil's claw, which fastened itself about her ankle as she walked through the fields, possessed the strength and toughness she was looking for." To this day, the center of the bottom of Pima baskets, as well as the finished edge, are commonly of devil's claw.

A massive cluster of devil's claw seed capsules which provide the black designs in Pima basketry. The devil's claw pods used to make this unusual ball came from Proboscidea parviflora ssp. parviflora, a native pink-flowered species found throughout southern Arizona. The pods are often gathered and stored in ball-like clusters such as this.

Both native species of devil's claw are widespread in Arizona and Baja California, but are less common in California. The pink-flowered annual (Proboscidea parviflora ssp. parviflora) is common along the Gila River flood plain where it grows wild on the banks, along fences and in abandoned fields where there is plenty of moisture. P. parviflora ssp. parviflora was probably introduced into California because its few known locations are near abandoned Native American settlements. According to the Jepson Manual 2nd Edition (2008), all California material previously identified as P. parviflora ssp. parviflora belongs instead to P. parviflora var. hohokamiana. It has been collected from several isolated desert areas of Inyo County, including Johnson Canyon west of Death Valley, near the mouth of Hunter Canyon in remote Saline Valley and near historic Fort Independence in Owens Valley. Although I could only find a few dried seed capsules with black seeds when I visited these sites during the 1980s, some of the pods from Saline Valley appeared to be the white-seeded var. hohokamiana. The yellow-flowered perennial (P. althaeifolia) grows from a deep taproot in dry washes and along roadsides throughout the Colorado Desert, extending south to the Cape Region of Baja California. It is not commonly seen in flower because few people botanize these regions in the scorching heat of summer.

One of the most interesting locations for the pink- flowered devil's claw (Proboscidea parviflora) in California is Johnson Canyon, a steep canyon on the eastern side of the Panamint Range that drains into Death Valley. Originally I thought this was ssp. parviflora; however it might be the same as var. hohokamiana that I collected in nearby Saline Valley. Johnson Canyon can be reached from the graded West Side Road, approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Furnace Creek Inn. A steep, rocky road climbs the alluvial fan for about six miles (10 km) before entering Johnson Canyon for another three miles (5 km). The road stops at a spring and the site of an old corral surrounded by cottonwood trees and willows. From here the canyon narrows, and a foot trail continues up the canyon to historic Hungry Bill's Ranch, and beyond to the crest of the Panamint Range.

Another interesting location for the Arizona long-horned devil's claw (Proboscidea parviflora ssp. parviflora) is Banner Queen Ranch near the mouth of Banner Canyon in San Diego County. Banner Creek flows east out of massive Volcan Mountain where it joins San Felipe Creek that flows into Sentenac Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. I collected this plant in November of 1987 in a heavily grazed grassland/mesquite area along Banner Creek. The sprawling plants apparently received ample moisture in the sandy soil of the creek bed. The only previous collections of Proboscidea species on file at the San Diego Natural History Museum Herbarium were the native yellow-flowered perennial (P. althaeifolia) and the naturalized annual (P. lousianica ssp. louisianica). Originally, I thought the Banner collection was the wild black seeded "race" of ssp. parviflora; however, it may be the cultivar hohokamiana. The occurrence of this species in Banner Canyon always perplexed me because it was not listed in The Flora San Diego County by R.M. Beauchamp (1986). Recently, I discussed this enigma with Kate Shapiro and she has finally solved the mystery of the Banner Creek devil's claw.

Approximately 20-25 years ago the Banner Queen Ranch had a problem with devil's claw plants after some turned up in a load of hay from Arizona. Proboscidea parviflora ssp. parviflora is widespread in Arizona, especially along the Gila River. The hay probably contained dead plants with mature seed capsules. The plants became established in the creek bottom. The devil's claws became a nuisance because the horns of the capsules got into the hocks (ankles) of horses and cattle. After all, these plants are adapted for dispersal by big animals, ancient herbivores that predate our domestic livestock. This story certainly explains my collection in 1987 and a subsequent collection by botanist Duffie Clemons in 1988.

Devil's claws are one of the most interesting and unusual plants of North America. Although they are relatively little-known to most gardeners, they have been very important in the culture of many Native American tribes. Whatever the reasons might be for growing them: As a dark strip for coiled baskets, as a vegetable crop or substitute for cucumber pickles, as an art design for bizarre little creatures, or just for their beautiful flowers and unusual seed pods; devil's claws are guaranteed to make an excellent conversation piece in the home or garden of any plant lover. But perhaps they are best enjoyed as a unique North American wildflower that brightens up a desert wash on a hot summer day.