screwbean
ExplorePlants
screwbean
Strombocarpa pubescens
The screwbean is a special plant with curly, twisty seed pods that look like little spirals! It grows in warm places and is great for helping the soil stay healthy.
Habitat: Desert
Appearance
The screwbean is a thorny shrub or small tree with silvery-green leaves. It features distinctive, yellow-green flowers and uniquely twisted, corkscrew-shaped seed pods that ripen to beige. Its appearance helps it stand out in arid desert landscapes.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusProsopis
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Even its tough wood was used to make tools and sturdy buildings!
Its sweet, twisty pods were a super important food for many desert people!
The plant’s name comes from its amazing, corkscrew-shaped seed pods!
This resilient desert dweller can survive for more than 100 years!
Special abilities
Ability
Drought Master
Screwbean can grow incredibly deep roots to find precious water in dry deserts, helping it survive long periods without rain.
Ability
Soil Builder
Screwbean has special root nodules that add valuable nitrogen to the soil, making it richer for other plants.
Ability
Twisty Traveler
Screwbean has uniquely twisted pods that break apart slowly, dropping seeds over time and allowing them to spread far.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 200-700 cm
- Spread
- 150-600 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eaten by
Bighorn sheep
Ovis canadensis
eats its leaves and pods
pollinates
Honey bee
Apis mellifera
gathers nectar from its flowers
symbiotic with
Rhizobium bacteria
Rhizobium leguminosarum
fixes nitrogen in its roots
eaten by
Mule deer
Odocoileus hemionus
browses its foliage and seed pods
shelters
Phainopepla
Phainopepla nitens
nests within its thorny branches
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Nitrogen Fixing
Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Desert
Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants unless an adult says it's okay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is screwbean?
200-700 cm
How wide does screwbean spread?
150-600 cm
How big are the flowers on screwbean?
0.5-1 cm
When does screwbean bloom?
Summer
Is screwbean edible?
Yes
Is screwbean toxic?
None
What is screwbean's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is screwbean pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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