Common Name:

General Information

Scorpiurus muricatus is an annual plant, branching near the base, with erect to decumbent stems up to 80cm long; it can grow up to 60cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. The plant used to be cultivated in Germany for medicinal purposes[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Mediterranean region - all Mediterranean countries except Libya

Habitat

Cultivated ground and dry places[]. Open grassland under cork oak, holm oak etc, fruit orchards, fallows etc, generally on basic substrates such as limestones, marls, gypsums and clays; at elevations up to 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.40 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is likely to require a sunny position in a light or medium well-drained soil. It is found in the wild mainly on soils with a basic pH[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.

Edible Uses

Young seedpods - raw or cooked[, ]. A very indifferent flavour, it is included as an item of food mainly because it looks very like a caterpillar and can therefore cause humour at the food table[]. The contorted pod has tubercles or spines[].

Medicinal

The seeds have been used in the treatment of scorpion bites[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and plant out after the last expected frosts. It might be worthwhile making sowings in situ in mid spring.