Scientific Family
Cleomaceae
Synonyms
Cleomella refracta, Wislizenia costellata, W. melilotoides, W. refracta var. melilotoides, W. refracta var. refracta, W. scabrida
Other common names
jackass clover
spectacle pod
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual or perennial
Height
To about 6 feet
Riparian
Yes
Sturdy, many branched plant with erect, smooth stems and clover-like leaves divided into 3 segments. Yellow blooms are very dense near the top of an elongated flower stalk which appears feathery due to the small flower petals and many protruding stamens.
Stems smooth; leaflets 3, 1-1/2 to 4 times longer than wide, oblong, margins smooth, tip pointed to rounded; flowers yellow, dense on elongated stems, anthers 1/16 inch wide; fruits dry, composed of multiple chambers that separate, occur in pairs.
Habitat
Sandy or alkaline (chalky) soils in deserts and arid grassland, drainage areas, stream beds and fields. Frequently growing along roads and washes (areas having surface water for brief periods).
Plant Community
Riparian
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
1000
High elevation
6500
Flower Characteristics
Each flower has 4 yellow oblong petals and is about 1/2 inch across. Below the flower are 4 green leaf-like sepals united at the base, each about 1/8 inch long. Flowers grow in clusters around the upper fourth of the stem and bloom from the bottom up.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves have a strong, rancid, unpleasant smell. They have a "clover-like" appearance with oblong-shaped leaflets up to 1-1/2 inches long and to 3/4 inch wide. Each leaflet has a short, sharp to rounded tip. Stems are upright and branched from the base.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Light green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit is a shizocarp. It's dry, 2-seeded, 1/16 to 1/8 inch long and 1/16 inch wide. When mature, it splits into twin, 1-seeded, round "spectacle-shaped" segments that have bent stalks. Each segment is about 1/8 inch long with a rough, wrinkled surface.
Fruit type
Other
Fruit color
Yellowish-brown to brown
Tiny seeds are less than 1/16 inch long.