LION KILLER
LION KILLER
Order: Lamiales, Family: Pedaliaceae, Genus: Harpagophytum
The lion is the strongest carnivore living in Africa.
A plant that bears the nickname "Lion Killer," for it can kill the king of Africa, is Harpagophytum.
It is a plant that does not grow very tall, reaching only about 15 cm, and spreads across desert areas, covering a range of about 2 meters in diameter.
In the plains, a carnivorous lion might carelessly step on this plant's seeds.
These seeds are entirely woody and equipped with 10 to 12 spiny projections that can easily pierce the soles of wild animals' feet.
The reason it is called "DEVIL'S CLAW" is that these spiny projections have sharp, barbed claws that split into three at the tip, making them difficult to remove once they penetrate.
A lion that steps on this is shocked by the pain of the thorns piercing its foot and tries to bite and pull it out with its mouth, but the devil's claws on these seeds not only pierce the lion's foot but also deeply penetrate its mouth. The massive jaws that have driven countless prey to their deaths are caught in the trap of this small plant's seeds, and the more the lion struggles, the more its mouth hurts, causing the trap to tighten.
The lion, with traps stuck in both its front paw and mouth, writhes in agony, rolling on the ground. This plant forms a natural circular rug-like area spreading over a 2-meter range. As the lion rolls, more and more of the other traps embed themselves in its body. The lion, unable to use its weapons, can neither hunt nor drink, eventually succumbing to starvation, thirst, and pain until it finally dies.
The nickname "LION KILLER" was added to its English name "DEVIL'S CLAW" because of this deadly encounter.
This plant thrives by absorbing nutrients from the carcasses of lions that die from exhaustion, eventually blooming brightly and bearing fruit, waiting for its next victim to step into the trap. The seeds do not just kill lions; any creature that mistakenly steps on them will suffer the same hellish pain and slowly die of exhaustion.
These devilish seeds are available for purchase, but caution is necessary if you have pets or children at home.
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Lion Killer
Order: Lamiales
Family: Pedaliaceae
Genus: Harpagophytum
The lion is the strongest carnivore living in Africa. Harpagophytum is a plant that bears the ominous nickname "Lion Killer," for it can kill the king of Africa.
This plant, which grows only up to 15 cm tall, spreads out across desert areas, covering a range of about 2 meters in diameter. In the plains, a carnivorous lion might carelessly step on this plant’s seeds. These seeds are woody and equipped with 10 to 12 spiny projections that can easily pierce the soles of wild animals’ feet.
The reason it’s called "DEVIL'S CLAW" is that these spiny projections have sharp, barbed claws that split into three at the tip. Once these spines penetrate, it is difficult to remove them because of the barbs.
A lion that steps on this plant is shocked by the pain of the thorns piercing its foot and tries to bite and pull it out with its mouth. However, the devil's claws on these seeds not only pierce the lion’s foot but also deeply penetrate its mouth. The lion’s massive jaws, which have driven countless prey to their deaths, are caught in the trap of this small plant’s seeds. The more it struggles, the more its mouth hurts, causing the trap to tighten.
The lion, with traps stuck in both its front paw and mouth, writhes in agony, rolling on the ground. This plant, which spreads over a 2-meter range, forms a natural circular rug-like area. As the lion rolls, more and more of the other traps embed themselves in its body. The lion, unable to use its weapons, can neither hunt nor drink, eventually succumbing to starvation, thirst, and pain until it finally dies.
The nickname "LION KILLER" was added to its English name "DEVIL'S CLAW" because of this deadly encounter.
This plant thrives by absorbing nutrients from the carcasses of lions that die from exhaustion and pain, eventually blooming brightly and bearing fruit, waiting for its next victim to step into the trap. The seeds don’t just kill lions; any creature that mistakenly steps on them will suffer the same hellish pain and slowly die of exhaustion.
These devilish seeds are available for purchase, but caution is necessary if you have pets or children at home.
Japanese Name: Shishigoroshi (Lion Killer)
English Name: DEVIL'S CLAW
LION KILLER
Scientific Name: HARPAGOPHYTUM
(HARPAGOPHYTUM)
Classification: Lamiales, Pedaliaceae, Harpagophytum genus
Type: Perennial herb
Plant Height: 15 cm
Flowering: Spring to Autumn
Origin: Southern and Eastern Africa
Photography: Sakuya Konohana Kan, Seed Exhibition Corner
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