Cleome gynandra L.

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Photo: Colin Wenham
Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve

Photo: Bart Wursten
Road along Save river to Save-Runde confluence, Gonarezhou National Park.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along main Zvishavane - Rutenga road

Photo: Mark Hyde
Near Glenara Avenue South, Harare

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Cleome pentaphylla L. Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq. Gynandropsis pentaphylla DC. Pedicellaria pentaphylla Schrank
Common names:	Spider-wisp (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Much-branched annual herb, covered in glandular hairs, strongly aromatic when crushed. Leaves palmate with 3-5 obovate leaflets; margins shallowly dentate. Flowers in a terminal raceme; petals white, fading pinkish; stamens purple, borne on a long stalk. Fruit a long linear capsule.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In disturbed places, along road sides and as a weed of cultivation.
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in Africa, Madagascar, Mediterranean Area, Asia, Polynesia and tropical America.
Botswana distribution:	N,SE
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 9. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 358. (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 256. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 32. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 38. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 48. (Includes a picture). Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 142 - 143. (Includes a picture). Roodt, V. (2011). Wild flowers, Waterplants and Grasses of the Okavango Delta and Kalahari "Did You Know" nature series Struik Nature for Veronica Roodt Publications Page 33. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 44. Van Wyk, B. & Malan, S. (1988). Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria Region Struik, Cape Town Pages 48 - 49. (Includes a picture). Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 13. as Gynandropsis gynandra (Includes a picture). Wild, H. (1960). Capparaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Pages 205 - 207. as Gynandropsis gynandra (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Burundi: Cleome gynandra
Flora of Caprivi: Cleome gynandra
Flora of Malawi: Cleome gynandra
Flora of Mozambique: Cleome gynandra
Flora of Zambia: Cleome gynandra
Flora of Zimbabwe: Cleome gynandra
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Cleome gynandra

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Cleome gynandra
African Plant Database: Cleome gynandra
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Cleome gynandra
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Cleome gynandra
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Cleome gynandra
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iNaturalist: Cleome gynandra
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Cleome gynandra
JSTOR Plant Science: Cleome gynandra
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Cleome gynandra
Plants of the World Online: Cleome gynandra
Tropicos: Cleome gynandra
Wikipedia: Cleome gynandra