Proboscidea parviflora - double claw. fresh green fruit in wood bowl 01

Kuvaus:

Description: English: Proboscidea parviflora - A very important traditional indigenous edible and useful plant of the southwest United States. When green the distinctive curve of this fruit earned the name 'unicorn' plant, but when dry the fruits split along the spine to form a double hook, known as the 'double claw' or 'devil's claws' that easily catch on anything brushing past to disperse the seeds. (Not to be confused with the African 'devil's claw' of a completely different species and different use.) Proboscidea parviflora, 'double claw' fruits when picked young and tender green can be cooked like okra or pickled. Older, larger fruits are allowed to dry. The dried seeds are edible and highly nutritious, and can be eaten dry, crushed for oil or ground into flour. The long, dried curved seed pods have for centuries been collected for their strong fibers used in south-western U.S. traditional Native basketry. Here fresh harvested double claw pods will be sorted to select the tender younger pods for cooking. The tougher, more mature bigger pods will be set aside to dry - saved for seeds and basket fibers. Date: 7 September 2017. Source: Own work. Author: T.K. Naliaka.