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fringed spiderflower

Scientific Name: Cleome rutidosperma

Family: Capparaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Annual

Other Names:

       

Fringed Spider Flower (Cleome rutidosperma)

Cleome rutidosperma, commonly known as Fringed Spider Flower or Purple Cleome, is an annual herb recognized for its potential to spread rapidly.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant is sometimes referred to as "Spider Weed".

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Cleome rutidosperma DC.
  • Family: Capparidaceae (sometimes also referred to as Cleomaceae)
  • Synonyms:
    • Cleome ciliata Schmach. & Thonn.
    • Cleome rytidosperma DC. ex Schult. f.
    • Cleome burmannii (implied)
  • Common Names: Fringed Spider Flower, Purple Cleome, Spider Weed, Fringed Spiderflower, Ciliate Spider-Flower, Consumption Weed, Wild Cat's Whiskers. Other names include Nilavala, Kattukadku, Hurhuria (Bengali), and various Chinese names (&#24179&#20239&#33686&#30333&#33457&#33756, &#25104&#21151&#30333&#33457&#33756).

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to tropical Africa.
  • Found in Central America and Southeast Asia, including Timor.
  • Pantropical weed of coastal areas.
  • Occurs in lowland ruderal environments, both rainfed and upland areas.
  • First Australian mainland incursion discovered in Darwin at Fort Hill Wharf.

Ecological Role

  • Considered an exotic weed in various regions, including Australia.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Annual herb, growing up to 15-100 cm (sometimes up to 1 meter) tall.
  • Erect or sometimes spreading growth habit, widely branched.
  • Subglabrous, pubescent, or villous.
  • Leaves are alternate, typically palmatisect with 3 (sometimes 5) leaflets. Leaflets arranged in threes.
  • Flowers have 4 hairy sepals and 4 petals, 9-12 mm long, crimson, turning pink or violet-blue and about 5 mm long. Flowers are solitary, axillary, and zygomorphic, borne on long stalks from the leaf axil of the flowering stems.
  • Fruit is a 2-valved capsule that is cylindrical.
  • Seeds are brown or black.

Quirky Facts

  • In herbal medicine Fringed Spider Flower has been used for a very long time.

Reproduction and Biology

  • Reproduces by seeds.

Further Information

  • USF Herbarium Specimen Database
  • Encyclopedia of Life
  • Wikimedia Commons
  • Discover Life
  • Weeds Australia weed identification photonesta.com.