# Devil's Thorn (*Rumex spinosus*)

Devil's Thorn is a spiky plant that can be found in fields and gardens. Its sharp thorns can be tricky, but it also has pretty green leaves that help it grow strong.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Devil's Thorn](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Emex_spinosa_kz2.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emex_spinosa_kz2.JPG)

## Appearance

The Devil's Thorn is a low-growing plant with reddish stems and distinctive leaves that often have a wavy or slightly crinkled edge. Its most notable feature is the hard, spiny, three-winged burrs that enclose its seeds, giving it its formidable name.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Caryophyllales
- **Family:** Polygonaceae
- **Genus:** Rumex

## Interesting facts

- Its "thorns" aren't true thorns, but hardened parts of its flowers that make a spiky casing!
- The plant’s reddish stems and leaves can be a clue to its presence, especially in dry, sunny spots!
- This plant is so tough it can often be found growing in cracks in pavements or dusty roadsides!
- Though spiky, young leaves of its relatives are sometimes eaten as a tangy green, like wild spinach!

## Special abilities

- **Seed Armor:** Devil's Thorn has tough, spiky burrs that protect its seeds, allowing them to survive harsh conditions and be carried by animals.
- **Hitchhiker Seeds:** Devil's Thorn's spiky burrs easily attach to fur or clothing, helping its seeds travel far and wide to new places.
- **Survivor Leaves:** Devil's Thorn has leaves that can withstand tough, dry soils, helping it thrive where other plants struggle.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-30 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [Ruby Tiger Moth](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-tiger-moth) (*Phragmatobia fuliginosa*) — Its larvae munch on Rumex leaves.
- **Eats:** [Common Blue](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blue) (*Polyommatus icarus*) — Butterfly larvae feed on its leaves.
- **Eaten by:** Domestic Sheep (*Ovis aries*) — Sheep sometimes graze on young plants.

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Be careful around this plant because its thorns can poke you!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Devil's Thorn?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Devil's Thorn?

10-30 cm

### How wide does Devil's Thorn spread?

30-60 cm

### When does Devil's Thorn bloom?

Spring to early summer

### Is Devil's Thorn edible?

Yes

### Is Devil's Thorn toxic?

Mild

### What is Devil's Thorn's lifecycle?

Annual

### How is Devil's Thorn pollinated?

Wind

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Devil's Thorn: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/devils-thorn)