Family:
Cleomaceae Airy Shaw

Cleome L.

This genus is accepted, and its native range is Tropics & Subtropics.

[FZ]

Capparidaceae, H. Wild. Flora Zambesiaca 1:1. 1960

Morphology General Habit
Annual or perennial herbs or occasionally small shrubs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves usually petiolate, simple or digitately 3–9-foliolate; leaflets usually narrow, linear to lanceolate, entire or serrulate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers ± zygomorphic, in terminal racemes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 4, usually free or almost so, usually narrow and often glandular or setulose-pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 4, sessile or clawed, equal or unequal.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 2 — many, all fertile or some sterile, usually borne on a small torus or receptacle; filaments equal or unequal and declinate, occasionally thickened at the apex; anthers 2-thecous, usually oblong or narrowly oblong.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary sessile or with a short gynophore, with many ovules on two parietal placentas; style short or absent; stigma capitate or truncate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit an oblong or linear capsule often borne on an elongated gynophore, with two valves separating from the seed-bearing placentas, often tipped with the persistent style; valves glabrous or pubescent, smooth or strongly longitudinally nerved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds reniform, smooth or ridged transversely, radially or longitudinally, or reticulate-tuberculate, glabrous or pubescent.

[FTEA]

Capparidaceae, J. Elffers, R. A. Graham And G. P. Dewolf. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1964

Morphology General Habit
Herbs, mainly annual in East Africa, sometimes bushy and woody below
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, petiolate, simple or digitately compound with 3–5–7–9 very shortly petiolulate leaflets
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence racemose; flowers pedicellate, subtended by foliaceous or membranous, persistent or caducous bracts
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 4, free or shortly united at the base
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 4, equal or unequal, often long-clawed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Androphore absent; stamens free; filaments equal or unequal, sometimes medially swollen; staminodes present or absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Gynophore present or absent; ovary 1- locular with many parietal ovules
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a siliquiform capsule with 2 dehiscing valves and a persistent replum
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds discoid or reniform, the ends incurving or one of them free; testa smooth, rugulose or ridged.

[FSOM]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Herbs, sometimes woody below
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, simple or digitately compound; stipules minute or rudimentary
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in racemes, pedicellate, often zygomorphic. Sepals 4, free
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 4, equal or unequal, often long-clawed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 6–numerous, free, sometimes borne on an androgynophore
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary with many ovules; gynophore present or absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a ± linear capsule opening by two thin valves leaving the persistent placentas as a frame (replum)
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds rounded-reniform, usually ornamented.
Distribution
Some 200 species in tropical and subtropical areas of both hemispheres.

[FSOM]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Bushy herb or subshrub
Morphology Leaves
Leaves simple, inconspicuous, minutely stipulate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in racemes, small, regular, bisexual, with minute bracts
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 4, soon falling
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 4, shortly clawed, soon falling
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 6, in one whorl, equal, soon falling
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 1-celled, soon becoming flattened and winged; ovules 2; style filiform, soon falling; gynophore absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a winged, 1-seeded nut.
Note
Genus of one species

[FTEA]

Capparidaceae, J. Elffers, R. A. Graham And G. P. Dewolf. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1964

Morphology General Habit
Annual herbs or rarely perennial, rather shrubby
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, petiolate, 3–7-foliolate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a many-flowered terminal raceme with foliaceous bracts
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 4, free
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 4, clawed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Androphore conspicuous, slender, elongating, with the 6 stamens practically verticillate at the apex; staminodes absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Gynophore present; ovary 1-locular with many parietal ovules
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule siliquiform with 2 dehiscing valves and a persistent replum
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds reniform with a rugulose testa.

[FZ]

Capparidaceae, H. Wild. Flora Zambesiaca 1:1. 1960

Morphology General Habit
Annual herb or rarely rather shrubby.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves petiolate, 3–7-foliolate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences of terminal many-flowered racemes with foliaceous bracts.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers zygomorphic, usually bisexual; sepals 4, free; petals 4, clawed, spathulate or oblong.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 6, free, inserted on a filiform androgynophore at the base of the gynophore; anthers basifixed, somewhat curved; gynophore short; ovary 1-locular, ovules many on two parietal placentas; style persistent, short; stigma capitate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule dehiscent with two valves and a persistent replum.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds numerous, reniform; testa reticulate or rugose.

Native to:

Afghanistan, Alabama, Albania, Alberta, Aldabra, Algeria, Angola, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arizona, Arkansas, Aruba, Assam, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Borneo, Botswana, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cabinda, California, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Provinces, Cape Verde, Cayman Is., Central African Repu, Chad, Chile North, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Christmas I., Cocos (Keeling) Is., Colombia, Colorado, Congo, Connecticut, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Aegean Is., East Himalaya, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Florida, Free State, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Gulf States, Guyana, Hainan, Haiti, Honduras, Idaho, Illinois, India, Indiana, Iowa, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jawa, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Kenya, Kirgizstan, Krym, KwaZulu-Natal, Laccadive Is., Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Leeward Is., Lesotho, Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Libya, Louisiana, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Maldives, Mali, Maluku, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Mongolia, Montana, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nansei-shoto, Nebraska, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, Nevada, New Guinea, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New South Wales, New York, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Caucasus, North Dakota, Northern Provinces, Northern Territory, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oman, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Palestine, Panamá, Paraguay, Pennsylvania, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Queensland, Québec, Rwanda, Saskatchewan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sinai, Socotra, Somalia, South Australia, South China Sea, South Dakota, South European Russi, Southwest Caribbean, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Suriname, Swaziland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Texas, Thailand, Togo, Transcaucasus, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Utah, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Venezuelan Antilles, Vermont, Vietnam, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Virginia, Western Australia, Western Sahara, Windward Is., Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Introduced into:

Andaman Is., Bahamas, Bermuda, Caroline Is., Chagos Archipelago, Comoros, Cook Is., District of Columbia, Fiji, Galápagos, Hawaii, Italy, Kazan-retto, Korea, Maine, Marianas, Marquesas, Mexican Pacific Is., Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Nicobar Is., Niue, North Carolina, Primorye, Rhode I., Rodrigues, Romania, Réunion, Samoa, Seychelles, Society Is., Solomon Is., South Carolina, Tennessee, Turks-Caicos Is.

Cleome L. appears in other Kew resources:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
May 25, 2011 Souza [32502], Brazil K000326854 No

First published in Sp. Pl.: 671 (1753)

Accepted by

  • Govaerts, R. (1999). World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b): 1-1532. MIM, Deurne.
  • Hammel, B.E., Grayum, M.H., Herrera, C. & Zamora, N. (eds.) (2020). Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica 4(2): 1-524. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.

Literature

Flora of West Tropical Africa

  • —F.T.A. 1: 74.

Flora Zambesiaca

  • Gen. Pl. ed. 5: 302 (1754).
  • Sp. Pl. 2: 671 (1753)

Flora of Somalia

  • Flora Somalia, Vol 1, (1993) Author: by M. Thulin & L. E. Kers [updated by M. Thulin 2008]

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • L., Gen. Pl., ed. 5: 302 (1754)
  • Pax & K. Hoffm. in E. & P. Pf., ed. 2, 17B: 210 (1936)
  • Sp. Pl.: 671 (1753)

  • Colombian resources for Plants made Accessible

    ColPlantA 2021. Published on the Internet at http://colplanta.org
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    Flora Zambesiaca
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    Flora of Somalia
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    Flora of Tropical East Africa
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Neotropikey

    Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics.
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0