Volume 5 > Part 3 > Year 1991 > Page 263 > Capparaceae > Cleome

2. Cleome rutidosperma DC.wfo-0000611568

Prod. 1: 241. 1824; Jacobs in Fl. Males. I. 6: 104. 1960; Iltis, Brittonia 12: 290. 1960; Back. & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1: 183. 1963.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Annual herb; all parts with scattered soft, whitish hairs, ca 1 mm long. Leaflets 3, ovate, subrhombic or lanceolate, 3–3.5 by 1–1.5 cm; base cuneate; apex acute; nerves 6–8 pairs. Petiole 3–3.5 cm. Flowers violet; buds oblong, ca 4 mm long. Pedicels 2–3 cm, filiform. Sepals ovate, 2.5–3 mm long; apex acute or acuminate. Petals obovate, 8–11 by 2.5–3 mm, clawed. Stamens 6; filaments 7–10 mm; anthers oblong, ca 2 mm long. Gynophore ca 1.5 mm. Ovary cylindrical, 5–7 mm long, curved, beaked. Fruits 4.5–6 by 0.3–0.4 cm, with parallel veins, glabrous; stipes 2.5–3 om. Seeds 1.5 mm in diam., brown, with conspicuous, ± anastomosing cross-ribs connected by much weaker longitudinal ribs; a whitish elaiosome present.

Thailand : SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanehanabun; PENINSULAR: Chumphon.

Distribution : Native to W tropical Africa (type), introduced to Burma and Malesia.

Ecology : Wayside weed, sometimes on rocks. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.