Scorpiurus muricatus is an annual

Annual plant

An annual plant is a plant that usually germinates, flowers, and dies in a year or season. True annuals will only live longer than a year if they are prevented from setting seed...

 leguminous plant native to southern Europe with tiny pea-like flowers and simple leaves

Leaf shape

In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...

 uncharacteristic of a legume. Its contorted, pubescent pods give rise to its common name "Prickly Caterpillar". Extracts of the species have been found to have allelopathic effects on microbes of the Fusarium

Fusarium

Fusarium is a large genus of filamentous fungi widely distributed in soil and in association with plants. Most species are harmless saprobes, and are relatively abundant members of the soil microbial community. Some species produce mycotoxins in cereal crops that can affect human and animal health...

genus due to the high concentration of phytoalexin

Phytoalexin

Phytoalexins are antimicrobial substances synthesized de novo by plants that accumulate rapidly at areas of incompatible pathogen infection. They are broad spectrum inhibitors and are chemically diverse with different types characteristic of particular plant species...

s in the plants' tissues.

This is mainly a garden plant used as a groundcover

Groundcover

Groundcover refers to any plant that grows over an area of ground, used to provide protection from erosion and drought, and to improve its aesthetic appearance .- Ecosystem :...

. Its densely haired pods may be added to salads for interest, but are rarely eaten.