| Etymology | Genus | Given by Theophrastus, successor of Aristotle. Reference to plant unknown. |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Unknown | |
| Family | Cleomaceae | |
| Synonyms | Cleome ciliata Schumach. & Thonn., Cleome rytidosperma DC. ex Schult. f. | |
| Common Names | Purple Cleome, Fringed Spiderflower | |
| Status | Exotic: Naturalised | |
| Form | Herb | |
| Native Distribution | Tropical Africa | |
Diagnostics:
Cleome rutidosperma is a very common weed of lawns. The key is to watch out for its trifoliate leaves. Each leaflet is somewhat diamond-shaped with no stalk. The flowers are very small (about 15mm across) with upward pointing purple petals and protruding stamens and pistils.
Interesting Facts:
The Purple Cleome is naturalised throughout the tropics (eFlora, 2008). While tasting bitter, the leaves are eaten as a vegetable (Jansen, 2004).
In Malaysia, planting of this weedy herb around crop-fields helps to divert pest caterpillars of the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) such that the eggs are laid on the Purple Cleome instead (Jansen, 2004).
Purple Cleome is a short herb commonly on lawns.
Trifoliate leaves. Each leaflet does not have a stalk.
The purple flower up close.
Fruit is long and capsular.
References
eFloras (2008) Cleome rutidosperma Candolle. Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge. http://www.efloras.org/. Accessed on 22-Mar-2013.Jansen PCM. (2004) Cleome rutidosperma DC. In: Grubben GJH & OA Denton (Eds). PROTA 2: Vegetables/Legumes. [CD-Rom]. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands.
Author: Siyang
Posted: 2013-03-22 / Modified: 2017-12-25