A type of shrub or small tree with curved, claw-like thorns, found mainly in southwestern North America and used by Native peoples.
From 'cat' + 'claw,' named for the distinctive curved thorns that resemble a cat's claws. The plant (genus Acacia) has been called this since early explorers documented southwestern desert plants.
The catclaw plant was so useful to indigenous peoples that they used it for food, medicine, and tools—those wicked curved thorns actually inspired modern Velcro-like fasteners that engineers studied for their gripping power.
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