View source for Harpagophytum procumbens

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Harpagophytum
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Pedaliaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Harpagophytum]]''
| species = '''''H. procumbens;H.zeyheri'''''
| binomial = ''Harpagophytum procumbens/zeyheri''
}}

'''''Harpagophytum procumbens''''', also called '''grapple plant''', '''wood spider''' and most commonly '''Devil's Claw''', is a [[plant]] of the [[sesame]] family, native to [[South Africa]]. It got its name from the peculiar appearance of its hooked fruit. The plant's large [[tuberous]] [[root]]s are used [[medicinally]] to reduce [[Pain and nociception|pain]] and [[fever]], and to stimulate [[digestion]]. European [[colonists]] brought Devil's Claw home where it was used to treat [[arthritis]].

''H. procumbens'' are mainly found in the eastern and south eastern parts of Namibia, Southern Botswana and the Kalahari region of the Northern Cape, South Africa. ''H. Zeyheri'' is found in the northern parts of Namibia (Ovamboland) and southern Angola. The active ingredient is harpagoside with values ranging in both species from 1.0% to 3.3%. 

The name "devil's claw" is also used for several species of [[North America]]n plants in the genus ''[[Proboscidea (genus)|Proboscidea]]'', as well as ''[[urtica dioica]]''.