Grapple-plant

Grapple-plant (Uncaria procumbens), a procumbent plant of the same genus with the Gambir (q.v.), a native of South Africa. The seed-vessel has many hooked thorns, and clings most tenaciously to any animal—a provision for the distribution of the seed. When it lays hold of the mouth of an ox, Livingstone says, the animal stands and roars with pain and a sense of helplessness.