Harpagophytum procumbens Seeds - Devil's Claw - Indigenous Perennial Medicinal

Harpagophytum procumbens Seeds

Grapple Plant, Devil's Claw

Harpagophytum, also called grapple plant, wood spider and most commonly devil's claw, is a genus of plants in the sesame family Pedaliaceae, indigenous to South Africa. It is important to note that devil's claw is a protected plant in all three countries where it grows, (South Africa, Botswana and Namibia) or is about to be so. This means that it is illegal to dig it up or harvest it, even one plant, without a permit from the various departments of nature conservation. It owes its common name devil's claw to the peculiar appearance of its hooked fruit. The plant's large tuberous roots are used medicinally to reduce pain and fever, and to stimulate digestion. European colonists took devil's claw home where it was used to treat arthritis. Harpagophytum procumbens is mainly found in the eastern and south eastern parts of Namibia, Southern Botswana and the Kalahari region of the Northern Cape, South Africa. Harpagophytum zeyheri is found in the northern parts of Namibia (Ovamboland) and southern Angola. The active ingredient is harpagoside with values ranging in both species from 1.0% to 3.3%. The name "devil's claw" is also used for several species of North American plants in the genus Proboscidea, as well as Urtica dioica and certain species of Pisonia. The plants can probably withstand some frost as they are geophytes, being dormant in winter.