1. Polanisia dodecandra (Linnaeus) de Candolle in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 242. 1824.
Cleome dodecandra Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 672. 1753
Annuals, rarely perennials, (5-)10-60(-90+) cm. Stems branched; hairs stalked, glandular throughout. Leaves: petiole green to purple, angled, 1.5-4.5(-6) cm, glandular; leaflet blade oblanceolate to obovate or broadly elliptic, 1.9-4.5(-6.5) × 0.5-2(-3) cm, margins entire, surfaces sparsely glandular. Racemes (dense) 5-20 cm (10-30 cm in fruit); bracts unifoliate, lanceolate to orbiculate, 5-20 mm. Pedicels 10-25(-40) mm. Flowers: sepals purple, oblong, 3-6 × 1.5-2.5 mm, margins entire, apex acuminate, glandular; petals white, pink, rose, or purple, oblong-ovate, clawed, abaxial pair (3-)5-10 × 1.8-3(-5) mm, apex emarginate to lacerate, adaxial pair 8-14 × 3-5 mm, apex emarginate; nectary glands bright orange, not conspicuous (in fruit); stamens 10-20, exserted, purple, (6-)7-28(-40) mm; anthers purple, 1-1.3 mm; gynophore 0-2 mm in fruit; ovary 5-10 mm; style deciduous in fruit, 5-17 mm; stigma purple. Capsules (inflated) 40-70 × 5-9 mm, reticulate, glandular. Seeds 20-65, dark reddish brown, globose to oblong, 2-2.3 mm, roughened or tuberculate-rugose.
Subspecies 3 (3 in the flora): North America, n Mexico.
SELECTED REFERENCE Iltis, H. H. 1966. Studies in the Capparidaceae. VIII. Polanisia dodecandra (L.) DC. Rhodora 68: 41-47.
