Plant/Weed/orUglyCreature??

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by gardenchallenged, Jul 27, 2006.

  1. gardenchallenged

    gardenchallenged Member

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    Location:
    Connelly Springs,NC,USA
    I first came upon this a few years ago while walking through my yard. Felt a prick on my ankle & looked down & in my horror saw a large pair of curved needle type stickers attached to my sock which were at the end of an okra pod type body. The source of this pod, which resembles a very large mutated beetle with horns, is a fuzzy plant that looks very much like a squash or cucumber plant with round fuzzy leaves. The flowers are pale pink/lavender horn shaped with a bright yellow throat that forms a stripe out of the blossum. These then form into a green pod that resembles an okra pod but crescent shaped. The pods develope 2 spiney antennalike curved needle sharp "pinchers" at the top and 2 smaller ones come out the bottom. As the pod matures it turns almost black & gets very hard & dry. It maintains it's curved,crescent shape which is ideal for attaching itself to animals or socks! It really resembles some type of mutated insect with long curved & needle sharp pinchers.
    This year I've had one volunteer plant to pop up that is very healthy with a lot of the green young pods hanging on it. I also planted some seeds and now have 4 plants that are growing.
    I have shown the pods to anyone & everyone I can think of to identify, garden club members, older gardeners that have seen everything, but no one knows or has ever seen this strange thing before. I can only assume it was deposited by birds from some other region.
    My husband & I have begun referring to it as the cure for cancer due to the rarity & uniqueness of it. We have dozens of the pods displayed on an antique ax handle just outside our front door as they are perfectly curved to fasten onto the round handle & stay.
    My daughter is going to take some photos that I will try to attach but if anyone out there has seen or knows what this might be & where it originates from PLEASE reply!!
     
  2. Rima

    Rima Active Member

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    Sounds like an earwig that's transmogrified into a giant plant! Can you please post a picture of it?
     
  3. gardenchallenged

    gardenchallenged Member

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    Yes, I will post those as soon as I can to help with the identification. Where are earwigs found normally?
     
  4. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

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    Martynia sp., Devil's Claw?
     
  5. Rima

    Rima Active Member

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    Earwigs are little insects that have tiny pincers at the ends.
     
  6. gardenchallenged

    gardenchallenged Member

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    Well by golly it is definitely a devils claw!! I researched after Junglekeeper replied & what has been a mystery in NC for several years has been solved! Why didn't I do this 4 yrs. ago!? Junglekeeper----YOU ROCK!!
     
  7. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

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    Upon closer review using elements of your description, the plant in question may be Proboscidea louisianica (syn. Martynia louisianica). Have a look here.
     

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