Spiderflower

Cleome serrata Jacquin, Enum. Syst. Pl., 26. 1760; C. polygama Linnaeus

Plants [perennial], 15-50 cm. Stems unbranched or slightly branched; glabrous. Leaves: petiole 2-5 cm; leaflets 3, blade lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, 5-12 × 0.4-1.4 cm, margins serrulate, apex acute to long-acuminate, surfaces glabrous. Racemes 6-25 cm; bracts unifoliate, subulate, to 1 mm. Pedicels 4-8 mm. Flowers: sepals deciduous, green, subulate, 2-2.5 × 0.4-0.5 mm, glabrous; petals white or whitish, with pinkish or red distally, obovate, 5-6 × 1.8-2 mm, shortly clawed; stamens yellow, 2-5 mm; anthers 2-3 mm; gynophore 1(-2) mm in fruit; ovary 2.5-4 mm; style 0.2-0.3 mm. Capsules 30-50 × 2.5-3 mm. Seeds pale green to brown, 1.4-1.5 mm, inconspicuously ridged. 2n = 24.

Flowering summer. Disturbed areas; ca. 100 m; introduced; Ga.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America.