Alluring Devilish Blondes...

[Silas_Sancona]

    ...Yes, you read that right    ..Only in this case, i'm not referring to any Ex girlfriends..  Though there could be comparisons, haha.. 

Of all the " Arid " Type plants that have been on my radar, for many years, there has been one that i have been on a quest to track down and observe ..and cultivate..that has, up until recently been somewhat elusive.  It also belongs to a side- family of plants that closely resembles  another group of plants from Madagascar, the Uncarina ..often more commonly known as Mouse Trap Trees. Some still lump this group of plants into the same family Uncarina belongs to, the Pedaliaceae. Other taxonomists separate the Genus Proboscidea into the family Martyniaceae, a new world group of plants that possesses several characteristics which plants in the former, old world group do.. 

In the case of Proboscidea, often commonly called Devil's Claws, Ram's Horn, or Unicorn Plant, all members are herbaceous annual or perennial plants that typically sprawl as they grow, much like most plants in the Squash family.  While most species are Annual, the only yellow flowered species in the Genus, Probiscidea althaeifolia, is a desert tough, tuberous rooted perennial that can often be found growing in or near washes, or other hot, sandy/ rocky locations.

Unassuming when out of flower, or dormant during the winter, ( in most of it's range ) many who have hiked through the desert may recall a time when they might have been hooked by the dried out, woody seedpod often referred to as a " Devil's Claw " ..a clever adaptation to snag the feet of large animals which then help disperse seed, much like most members in the Uncarina family.  Leaves also have that slimy or clammy feel, and some degree of an unpleasant scent when crushed, much like Uncarina..  and other plants in the Pedaliaceae. Interestingly, those same clasping " claws " on the seedpods were extremely valuable to Native Americans both as a tool for basket weaving, and as a tool for sewing up wounds.  Un-ripe, Green Fruit is edible and said to have a similar flavor to Okra. Shelled seed is also edible and has an oil content similar to Sesame. It was so valuable that some of the Annual species were domesticated to create superior races both for the seedpods, and the seed.

In the desert, and in gardens, this Monsoon season stunner is one of the most unique of native plants whose large, bright yellow flowers look as though they might be related to Tabebuia, aka Trumpet Trees.. yet crossed with some exotic Orchid ..and possess a fragrance similar to Daffodils, with a hint of buttery Vanilla.  Flowers can be produced as long as it is warm and the plant is hydrated. Like most other warm season plants in the desert, growth is fast once dormant plants are soaked. Plants can also regrow from those deep seated roots if the top of the plant is damaged or broken off during a flash flood.

Admired this plant since i found an old seedpod when visiting Tucson years ago and researched what it belonged to. That said, for some reason, this is a very hard to find plant.. even the more specialty native plant nurseries don't stock it regularly, and most of the time, it is the annual species you will find seed of listed for sale online. Had hoped to plant a few of these around the front yard to add to the " monsoon Season " flower display, but..  Regardless, determined to track down this plant and observe /photograph ( and grow it )  Using iNaturalist observation data, tracked down the location of some specimens not far from the house earlier this Spring. Finding them, and a bunch of seed filled pods, i'd hoped this years Monsoon rains would be good enough to spur a good bloom on those just popping up out of the ground plants.  I wasn't disappointed when i made my way back to the same location this morning. Found many more plants in the same general area as well.

While they don't sprawl as much as Squash or Melons, they do need a little space in the Garden.. and should be kept dry while dormant.  Well drained sandy/ rocky soil only. A great complement to Cacti, and other arid - habitat plants.  Would be interesting to grow below their old world cousins, like Uncarina, as well. Annual Proboscidea species are also interesting to grow and add a tropical feel w/ the flowers ( typically pink/ purple ) and large leaves. For me though, this devilish blonde is the best of them all.. As mentioned earlier, green seedpods are edible ..so you don't have to allow them to mature. Dried up plants are easily cleaned up, or left to add organics to the soil.

Enough description, lol  Time for some pictures of those devilish blondes

Flowers


















Immature, green seedpods




Seedling, and Caudex- like stem on a young plant, and leaves..






Size of a couple of the bigger specimens observed..




Now to work with a worthy challenge, germinating seed.. Would think they'd pop when it it hottest, but, a few came up in May,  then fried ..or i watered too much.. other seed has just sat in their pots, even w/ the rain we've had so far this summer.  This naughty blonde is worth the effort..

More flowers encountered on today's Monsoon Monday saunter later..


 

[teddytn]

Very orchid like flowers!

[Butch]

Very cool...

Butch

[Silas_Sancona]

This year's crop   ..of Devilish Blondes 


















Season seems to be starting jusst a touch later than when i first checked on things last year.. " Monsoon Green up ",  at least here closer Picketpost Mountain,  is just starting the process w/ most of the grasses/ native flowers, etc just starting to get going.. Compared to about the exact same time last year, everything was several inches taller..  Hopefully rains this month continue at a good enough clip to keep everything moving..

Same story further up the hill ( at Oak Flat ) except that area has seen more rain so far, and is greener overall, w/ lots of warm season native stuff quickly gaining size. You'll see for yourself soon.

[Silas_Sancona]

Re-visiting this thread for a brief update on the trial batch of seed sown in large pots last summer that may offer a valuable key in getting this tough plant started..

Now that 2 out of 3 that germinated  are completely dormant, decided to ..carefully... scratch around the pot to see how the roots look..  Remaining seedling is still hanging on to foliage, despite it being very late in the year.  I'd considered separating the 3 seedlings into separate pots but decided i'm going to leave them alone for another year so the thickened roots / Tubers and overall plants can get fatter / more mature..

Not the best angles but you can see how these drill a fairly deep root right from the start. Decided not to dig down any further but, where i stopped digging, is about a quarter down into the total soil ( grit / sand ) in this wide 9"H X 10 1/2"W  container..  Likely why starting in anything smaller than say a 1gal ( which also may be too small ) always ended up in failure.



Main root on these look nice n' fat. Can see how the vegetative portion dies all the way back to the top of the root as well. Stay happy thru the " winter," these should explode out of the soil when they wake up in the spring.



Will update once they wake up..

To add more weight to confirming my thoughts on this experiment, will be starting two more 3gal test pots, as well as couple 1 and 5gals test pots.  As mentioned, 1gals may not be deep enough to provide enough space for the roots to develop properly ..but,  we'll see..

Soil will essentially be the same 80% grit / 20% or so finer sand make up  ..though i may add a higher %' age of both Pumice and Turface MVP to one of the 3 and 5gal test pots next year just to see if ..or how.. adding those things influences growth.. Hopefully,  next summer will be wetter and the inaugural batch will flower ..or at least be closer to flowering size,  and about ready to be separated out into their own pots by this time next year.  🤞





 

Edited November 22, 2023 by Silas_Sancona
edit