Scorpiurus muricatus

Scorpiurus muricatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Scorpiurus
Species:	S. muricatus
Binomial name
	Scorpiurus muricatus; L.

Scorpiurus muricatus - MHNT

Scorpiurus muricatus, the caterpillar-plant^[1] or prickly scorpion's-tail,^[2] is an annual leguminous plant native to southern Europe and Greater Syria with tiny pea-like flowers and simple leaves uncharacteristic of a legume. Its contorted, pubescent pods give rise to its common name "prickly caterpillar". Extracts of the species have been found to have allelopathic effects on microbes of the genus Fusarium due to the high concentration of phytoalexins in the plants' tissues.^[3]

This is mainly a garden plant used as a groundcover. Its densely haired pods may be added to salads for interest, and its leaves used as a salad herb in some Mediterranean countries.

References[]

^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
^ "Scorpiurus muricatus". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
^ Kohli, R.K. (2001). Allelopathy in agroecosystems. Journal of Crop Production 4(2), 208.

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[BSBI07-1] BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.

[2] "Scorpiurus muricatus". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 8 November 2015.

[3] Kohli, R.K. (2001). Allelopathy in agroecosystems. Journal of Crop Production 4(2), 208.

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