Scientific Family
Capparaceae
Synonyms
Peritoma serrulata, Cleome serrulata var. angusta
Other common names
bee spiderflower
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
2 to 4 feet
Riparian
Yes
Smooth stems branch from upper nodes, growing into a tall, loosely formed slightly stinky-smelling plant. Flowers are round showy clusters which have a fuzzy appearance.
Large, upright annual, topped with clusters of showy, pink-purple, 4-petaled flowers and long, slender, dangling seed pods. Alternate leaves have 3 leaflets. Unbranched to branched above. Herbage has an odd, somewhat unpleasant smell.
Habitat
Found in open fields, roadsides, and other moist disturbed habitats, especially abundant at higher elevations during the late summer monsoons.
Plant Community
Riparian
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
4500
High elevation
9000
Flower Characteristics
Flowers in terminal elongated, somewhat rounded clusters 2 to 10 inches long; flowers slightly asymmetric; petals pushed to 1 side of flower; 4 sepals with minutely toothed margins; 4 petals; 6 stamens with purple filaments.
Flower color
Pinkish, purplish or white
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Lower leaves have long stems; upper leaves short or nearly no stem; blades compound with 3 distinct, lance-shaped or inversely lance-shaped leaflets, 3/4 to 3 inches long and 1/5 to 2/3 inch wide; margins not toothed.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Palmate
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Capsules linear to oblong, 3/4 to 2-3/4 inches long, slightly constricted between the seeds and loosely hanging on long small stalks.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit color
Gray to black
Many black or gray mottled, ovoid seeds, about 1-1/2 inches long.