This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Proboscidea louisianica
  • Unicorn Plant

an annual member of the Proboscidea genus in the family Martyniaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 10
    Zone 10
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Proboscidea louisianica has 0 edible uses listed
Proboscidea louisianica has 0 material uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Young fruits, harvested whilst still tender enough to be pierced with a fork, can be sliced and added to soups as a thickening agent[1][2]. They can also be parboiled and eaten as a vegetable or pickled in vinegar[2]. They are sometimes pickled when immature[3][4][5]. The fruit is about 4 - 6mm long[6].

Seed - raw or cooked. High in protein[2] and in oil[7]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[2].

Root[8]. No more details are given.

Fruit

Unknown use

Unknown part

Oil

Root

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

A black dye can be obtained from the seedpods[9]. The long pointed seed capsule horns can be used as the black pattern material in coiled basketry[9].

Unknown part

Basketry
Dye

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Proboscidea louisianica.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a warm greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts[6].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Proboscidea louisianica. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a well-drained porous soil in a warm sheltered position[6].

A frost-tender species, it can be grown outdoors in Britain as a half-hardy annual. This species is closely related to P. fragrans[6].

This species has occasionally been cultivated as a food crop[7][10].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Proboscidea louisianica. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Proboscidea louisianica.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Proboscidea louisianica
Genus
Proboscidea
Family
Martyniaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
[9]
Botanic
[11][6][12]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
10
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    annual
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press ISBN 0-8623-0343-9 (1967-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.4 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()
    5. ? 5.05.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.46.5 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 (1993-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.2 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    10. ? Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J [Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas] Botanical Research Institute, Texas. (1999-00-00)
    11. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)
    12. ? Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. ISBN 0-486-22642-5 (1970-00-00)

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-50" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

    "image:Proboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Proboscidea_louisianica&oldid=79703"
    Facts about "Proboscidea louisianica"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyMartyniaceae +
    Belongs to genusProboscidea +
    Has binomial nameProboscidea louisianica +
    Has common nameUnicorn Plant +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partFruit +, Unknown part +, Root + and Seed +
    Has edible useUnknown use + and Oil +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone10 +
    Has imageProboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useBasketry + and Dye +
    Has mature height1 +
    Has primary imageProboscidea louisianica subsp. fragrans (Martynia fragrans) Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26. 85. 1840.jpg +
    Has search nameproboscidea louisianica + and unicorn plant +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameProboscidea louisianica +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Proboscidea louisianica +, Proboscidea louisianica +, Proboscidea louisianica +, Proboscidea louisianica +, Proboscidea louisianica + and Proboscidea louisianica +