Scorpiurus muricatus

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Fabaceae
Subfamilia: Faboideae
Tribus: Loteae
Genus: Scorpiurus
Species: Scorpiurus muricatus
Name

Scorpiurus muricatus L., 1753
Synonyms

Scorpioides elegans Bubani
Scorpioides muricata (L.) Medik.
Scorpioides sulcata (L.) Medik.
Scorpiurus acutifolius Viv.
Scorpiurus echinatus Lam.
Scorpiurus laevigatus Sm.
Scorpiurus margaritae P.Palau
Scorpiurus muricatus var. margaritae (P.Palau) E.Domínguez & E.F.Galiano
Scorpiurus oliveri P.Palau
Scorpiurus subvillosus L.
Scorpiurus subvillosus var. laevigatus (Sm.) E.Domínguez & E.F.Galiano
Scorpiurus sulcatus L.
Scorpiurus sulcatus var. oliveri (P.Palau) E.Domínguez & E.F.Galiano

Distribution
Native distribution areas:
References
Primary references

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus II: 745. Reference page. "muricata"

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Scorpiurus muricatus in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Feb 25. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2021. Scorpiurus muricatus. Published online. Accessed: Feb 25 2021.
Tropicos.org 2021. Scorpiurus muricatus. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Feb 25.
Hassler, M. 2021. Scorpiurus muricatus. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Feb 25. Reference page.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Scorpiurus muricatus in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
English: caterpillar-plant, prickly scorpion's-tail
español: granillo de oveja
suomi: Piikkiskorpionipalko

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.
USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Scorpiurus muricatus". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
Kohli, R.K. (2001). Allelopathy in agroecosystems. Journal of Crop Production 4(2), 208.