These Devil’s Claw were harvested from the wilds of the central Arizona high desert, and are of the finest quality and condition. When they are fresh on the vine, which looks similar to a squash plant and has purple flowers, they are green and look kind of like a huge pepper. They are edible at this stage and reportedly have a taste and texture similar to okra. When the “peppers” go to seed, they dry out and split apart in a way that makes the resulting seed pod look reminiscent to the head of a devil–very cool and spooky! The ends of the pod form a sharp hook which grabs on to anything it touches, whether it be a pant leg or a cow’s hide, and thus hitchhikes across the terrain to spread its seeds. These hooks are what gives the devil its claw. The botanical essence of Devil’s Claw is said to be medicinally beneficial against arthritis, although the extraction and administration methods are unknown to me. However, they are highly sought after by indigenous artisans and weavers of baskets, who soak them and split the talons to weave black accents into their basket designs. These specimens range in size from what I call “monsters” at around six inches down to the few smallest ones at about three inches. They are all in excellent condition and are priced for their perfection more than their size. They are priced to sell individually, but I will review offers if multiple pieces are desired.