Scorpiurus L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 185

68. Scorpiurus L. 1

Annual. Leaves simple, with 3-5 parallel veins; stipules free, linear. Flowers solitary or in axillary heads. Calyx campanulate, with 5 equal teeth; corolla yellow or purplish; keel acute; stamens diadelphous. Legume lomentaceous or indéhiscent, curved or variously contorted, longitudinally ridged, usually with spines or tubercles on the outer ridges.

Literature: C. C. Heyn & V. Raviv, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 93: 259-267 (1966).

Fruit smooth or with tubercles or spines on the outer ridges; flowers usually 2-5 in a head 1. muricatus

Fruit with capitate tubercles on the outer ridges; flowers solitary, rarely 2 together on a peduncle 2. vermiculatus