Caterpillar-Plant
ExplorePlants
Caterpillar-Plant
scorpiurus muricatus
The Caterpillar-Plant (Scorpiurus muricatus) is a captivating, low-growing annual herb belonging to the legume family. Native to the sun-drenched fields and meadows of the Mediterranean region, this quirky plant earns its common name from its highly unusual seed pods. As the yellow, pea-like flowers fade, they give way to twisted, ribbed, and bristly pods that bear an uncanny resemblance to curled-up green or brown caterpillars. This remarkable mimicry makes it a popular ornamental curiosity in gardens around the world. Beyond its fascinating appearance, the Caterpillar-Plant plays a vital ecological role. Like many legumes, it forms a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria to fix nitrogen, enriching the earth wherever it grows, and it is frequently utilized as a hardy forage crop for livestock. To easily track and identify Caterpillar-Plant on your next adventure, download the Snappit app.
Habitat: Found in dry, grassy meadows, disturbed soils, and open fields, particularly thriving in the warm, calcareous soils of the Mediterranean basin.
Appearance
Scorpiurus muricatus is a sprawling herbaceous annual that typically reaches 10 to 60 centimeters in length. Unlike most legumes, it features simple, entire leaves that are somewhat spatulate or oval-shaped with distinct parallel veins. During the blooming season, it produces small, bright yellow, papilionaceous (pea-like) flowers held on slender stalks. The plant's most identifying characteristic is its distinct seed pods: tightly coiled, contorted legumes covered in soft bristles and longitudinal ribs, mimicking the segmented body of a resting caterpillar or a scorpion's tail. These pods transition from bright green to a woody brown as they mature.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusScorpiurus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
In the 16th century, European gardeners grew this plant specifically to use the bizarre seed pods as decorative oddities and in practical jokes.
Its scientific genus name, Scorpiurus, translates from Greek to 'scorpion's tail', referencing the tightly coiled, stinging look of the mature pods.
The seed pods look so much like real caterpillars that they are sometimes added to salads as a practical joke to surprise dinner guests!
Unlike most plants in the pea and bean family, which usually have compound leaves made of multiple leaflets, the Caterpillar-Plant has simple, undivided leaves.
Special abilities
Ability
Nitrogen Fixation
Partners with Rhizobium bacteria in its root nodules to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, naturally fertilizing the soil.
Ability
Visual Mimicry
Produces bizarre, coiled, bristle-covered seed pods that closely resemble caterpillars, which may deter certain herbivores or trick birds into aiding seed dispersal.
Ability
Drought Tolerance
Exhibits resilient growth patterns that allow it to survive and successfully reproduce in the arid, sun-baked environments of the Mediterranean summer.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 10-60 cm
- Lifespan
- 1 years
Diet & Feeding
As a photosynthetic plant, it produces its own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, heavily supplemented by nitrogen fixed from the atmosphere.
Primary Foods
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil nutrients
- Atmospheric nitrogen
Foraging Method
- Photosynthesis
Ecological connections
mutualism
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Pollinates the yellow pea-like flowers while gathering nectar.
mutualism
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Rhizobium leguminosarum
Forms root nodules to fix atmospheric nitrogen for the plant.
eaten by
Domestic Sheep
Ovis aries
Grazes on the foliage, as the plant is a nutritious forage crop.
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Caterpillar-Plant?
The easiest way to identify Caterpillar-Plant is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Caterpillar-Plant?
10-60 cm
How long does Caterpillar-Plant live?
1 years
What does Caterpillar-Plant eat?
As a photosynthetic plant, it produces its own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, heavily supplemented by nitrogen fixed from the atmosphere.
Where is Caterpillar-Plant usually found?
Found in dry, grassy meadows, disturbed soils, and open fields, particularly thriving in the warm, calcareous soils of the Mediterranean basin.
How does Caterpillar-Plant hunt?
Photosynthesis
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