More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
Optimized for viewing on desktop or laptop
Mints, Plantains, Olives, and Allies of Zihuatanejo
ORDER LAMIALES
Cat's Claw
Martynia annua
Flowers by Colour
-Vascular Plants (Phylum Tracheophyta)
-Flowering Plants (Subphylum Angiospermae)
-Mints, Plantains, Olives, and Allies (Order Lamiales)
-Unicorn Plant Family (Family Martyniaceae)
-Genus Martynia
-Cat's Claw (Martynia annua)
The native range of this species is Mexico to Central America, Caribbean. The flowers are typically pink or purple with a yellow throat. It has many different uses in traditional medicine. They produce strange seed pods that can attach to the feet and legs of large animals, and include some of the largest hitchhiker fruits in the world.
Description
• Martynia annua, commonly known as devil's claw or cat's claw, is an annual herb in the family Martyniaceae. It has a spreading growth habit, large, broadly ovate leaves with a rough texture, and showy, trumpet-shaped flowers that are typically pink to purple with darker markings and a yellowish throat. Its fruit develops into a woody capsule with two long, curved, claw-like projections that give the plant its common name. The mature fruits can attach to animals and clothing, helping disperse the seeds.
Range
• Martynia annua is native to the tropical Americas and has become naturalized in many warm regions worldwide. It is established in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• This species grows in warm, sunny locations, including roadsides, disturbed ground, agricultural fields, open grassland, and the edges of scrub and woodland. It commonly favours exposed sites with seasonal rainfall and can spread readily in disturbed habitats. Its sticky or hooked fruits aid dispersal by animals and contribute to its ability to colonize new areas.