Martyniaceae

Martyniaceae is a small family of flowering plants in the order Lamiales, consisting of two genera, Martynia and Proboscidea. Native to North America and northern Mexico, members of this family occupy arid to semi-arid habitats and are notable for their unusual fruit capsules.

Plants in Martyniaceae are annuals or short-lived perennials with simple, alternate leaves. The flowers are bilaterally symmetrical with a tubular, often two-lipped corolla that is typically pink, purple, or white. The fruit is a dry capsule that dehisces to reveal long, horn-like projections that can persist after maturation; these horns are a hallmark of the group.

The distinctive horned fruits are associated with seed dispersal, with horns that can attach to animal fur or feathers, facilitating transport, or that aid in distancing seeds from the parent plant as the fruit dries. Plants favor sunny, open habitats including prairies, desert margins, and disturbed ground.

Genera and classification: The two genera are Martynia and Proboscidea; Proboscidea louisianica is among the best-known species, commonly called devil's-claw. In APG-based systems, Martyniaceae is treated as a distinct family within the order Lamiales, though some classifications place its members close to Pedaliaceae.