Citation: Thell., Mém. Soc. Nat. Sci. Cherbourg sér. 14, 38:480 (1911-12).

Synonymy: Martynia louisianica Miller, Gard. Dict. edn 8:no. 3 (as 'louisiana'), Corrigenda ('louisianica') (1768); P. jussieui Keller in Schmidel, Icon. ed. Keller 49, pl. 12-13 (1762), nom. invalid.; M. proboscidea Glox., Obs. Bot. 14 (1785); P. louisiana (Miller)Woot. & Standl., Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 19:602 (1915), orthographic variant. , Martynia louisiana, Proboscidea louiseana, Proboscidea louisianica

Common name: Purple-flowered devils-claw. (I11 Parsons (1973) Noxious weeds of Victoria, fig. 193.)

Description:
Viscid procumbent annual with a stout stem, covered by glandular hairs; leaves opposite or the pairs somewhat displaced, on long stout petioles, the blade more or less orbicular to ovate-orbicular, as long as or a little shorter than the petiole, 3-20 cm diam., cordate, entire or very shallowly undulate.

Racemes terminal, with flowers scattered alternately along a 6-20 cm long rhachis; pedicels 1-5 cm long; calyx cup-shaped, the upper side 1-2 cm long, up to twice as long as the lower side, unequally 5-lobed, slit on the lower side to the base; corolla pale-lilac, the tube broadened, c. 2.5-3 cm long, topped by a widely spreading spotted limb divided into 2 upper lobes and 3 much longer lower lobes.

Capsule body ellipsoid, 5-6 cm or more long, tapering into a long slender tough upwardly then inwardly curved beak 6-9 cm or more long, the fleshy exocarp caducous leaving the woody endocarp, on dehiscence the capsule forming 2 spreading valves each with a long persistent beak; seeds large.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: FR, EP, NL, MU, SL.   W.Aust.; N.S.W.   native to southern United States of America and possibly eastern Mexico. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Feb. — April.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available