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Devil's claws, also called cockspur, is a sprawling, shrubby
vine with opposite branching and pairs of sharp, curved spines
in the leaf axils. The name of the plant comes from these unpleasant
spines, which can snag an unsuspecting passer-by. Fruits and
seedpods often attach to animals, or hikers, which aids in dispersal
of the plants. Dried plant parts are steamed to make a liquid said to be an effective treatment for arthritis. While devil's claws grow mainly in tropical climates now, |
 Twigs and leaves |
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| they once had a range that reached farther north. They are native to southern Florida's hammocks, pine forests, and to the Florida Keys. | ||
