The epithet has been spelled louisianica by several authors, but that is now considered an orthographic variant of the name (W). This widespread southwestern weed is sometimes cultivated for its edible fruits and seeds. It may be native to Ky. on some western lowlands and along the Ohio Rv., but adventive elsewhere (FAYE, JESS, WASH). Further evaluation of records and localities is needed. P. parviflora (Woot.) Woot. & Standl. is a more western species that was cultivated for fiber by native people (Ford 1985). The fruits of Proboscidea are unusual and mysterious, with little definitive knowledge about their dispersal; but see Thieret (1976) and Phillipi & Tyrl (1979). With almost no sources cited, wikipedia.org states in 2020: "The plants produce long, hooked seed pods. The hooks catch on the feet of animals, and as the animals walk, the pods are ground or crushed open, dispersing the seeds... The fruits of all species are edible before they ripen and become woody."