Martynia is a monotypic genus in the Martyniaceae family consisting of a single species, Martyniaannua L., which is commonly known as cat's claw, tiger's claw, iceplant.[1] or Devil's claw.[2] However, the name 'iceplant' may also refer to members of the unrelated plant family Aizoaceae.
Martynia is used for making beads and ornaments,[1] and has a history of folk medicine uses in the Indian subcontinent.[4]
Description
Martynia is an erect, somewhat shrubby annual plant about 1 metre (3.3ft) tall, covered with glandular hairs, and has
ovate, mucilaginous leaves 8–20 centimetres (3.1–7.9in) wide and 6–19 centimetres (2.4–7.5in) long.[4] The leaves are opposite, and have red petioles. They resemble sticky rhubarb. Its flowers are pale pink and tubular, and have nectar guides and purple spots. Fruits become blackened when ripe and have hooked spines at the tip, lending its name "cat's claw" or "tiger's claw".[4] They stick to animal fur and eventually the seeds fall out as the fruit gets crushed by the animal's feet.
Taxonomy
The genus and species were first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 publication, Species Plantarum, although the modern taxonomic definition may not correspond with the original Linnaeus description, instead being a synonym for Proboscidea louisianica (Miller) Thellung,[5] as well as other names used in India.[4]
Martyn gave the species the following descriptive name: Martynia annua villosa et viscosa, folio subrotundo, flore magno rubro.[5] In India, it has several taxonomic synonyms and common names.[4]
Distribution
Martynia is widely naturalized across subtropical and tropical world regions, particularly in Central America and the Indian subcontinent.[1][4] It is typically found in uncultivated fields and arable lands from plains to 1,500 metres (4,900ft).[4]
Uses
The plant is used for making beads and other native ornaments.[1] It has been applied for numerous supposed treatments in Ayurveda and Siddha folk medicine.[4]
"Martynia annua L." Germplasm Resources Information Network, National Plant Germplasm System, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture. 7 March 1995. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
Fontana, Bernard L.; Robinson, William J.; Cormack, Charles W.; Leavitt, Earnest E. (1962). Papago Indian Pottery. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington Press, on behalf of the American Ethnological Society. p.78. OCLC869680.
Hevly, Richard H (1969). "Nomenclatural history and typification of Martynia and Proboscidea (Martyniaceae)". Taxon. 18 (5): 527–534. doi:10.2307/1218379. JSTOR1218379.
External links
Media related to Martynia at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Martynia at Wikispecies
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Martynia_annua, and is written by contributors.
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