Cleomella

de Candolle in A. P de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle

in A. Pde Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 237. 1824.

Common names: Stinkweed
Etymology: Generic name Cleome, and Latin -ella, dimunitive
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 7. Treatment on page 209. Mentioned on page 200, 205, 208.
 TaxonIllustrator 
FNA7 P29 Cleomella angustifolia.jpegCleomella angustifolia
Wislizenia californica
Oxystylis lutea
Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey
Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey
Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey

Herbs, usually annual [perennial] (usually unpleasantly scented). Stems sparsely or profusely branched (usually erect); glabrous, pubescent, or scabrous. Leaves: stipules (sometimes deciduous), 3–8-palmatifid, threadlike, or setaceous; petiole without pulvinus (usually longer than leaflets); leaflets (1 or) 3. Inflorescences terminal, racemes, corymbs, or flowers solitary in distal leaf-axils (sometimes remaining compact in fruit); bracts usually present (pedicels often anthocyanic). Flowers actinomorphic; sepals persistent, connate basally (ca. 1/4 of length) [distinct], equal (each often subtending a nectary); petals equal; stamens 6 (usually exserted, distinct, equal); filaments inserted on a discoid or conical androgynophore, glabrous; anthers (ellipsoid), coiling as pollen released; gynophore reflexed, spreading, or ascending in fruit. Fruits capsules, dehiscent (as long as or shorter than wide), rhomboidal, globose, deltoid, or ovoid (valves laterally expanded, falling away from round, persistent septum). Seeds 1–16, globose or reniform, not arillate, (cleft fused between ends). x = 20.

Distribution

United States, Mexico

Discussion

Species 10 (8 in the flora).

The two extraterritorial species of Cleomella are C. mexicana de Candolle and C. perennis H. H. Iltis, both known from central and northern Mexico.

Key

1 Gynophore 0.5-3 mm in fruit; petals 1.5-2.8 mm > 2
1 Gynophore 2.5-17 mm in fruit; petals 3-9 mm > 3
2 Pedicels recurved in fruit (± equal to gynophore), 1-2 mm; inflorescences solitary flowers in axils of closely spaced leaves. Cleomella brevipes
2 Pedicels spreading in fruit (much longer than gynophore), 12-20 mm (in fruit); inflorescences racemes, terminating stems and branches. Cleomella parviflora
3 Leaf blade surfaces (and sometimes stems) spreading-hispidulous; styles 2-3(-5) mm; plants usually spreading or matlike, sometimes erect. Cleomella obtusifolia
3 Leaf blade surfaces (and stems) glabrous; styles 0.3-2 mm; plants ± erect > 4
4 Gynophore 2.5-6(-8) mm in fruit; bracts ± rudimentary; plants without dominant central stem. Cleomella palmeriana
4 Gynophore 3.5-17 mm in fruit; bracts unifoliate or trifoliate (5-25 mm); plants with dominant central stem > 5
5 Leaflet blades ovate-elliptic, oblanceolate, or oblong-lanceolate, 0.4-1.4 cm wide (usually 1.5-2.5 times longer than wide) > 6
5 Leaflet blades linear to elliptic, 0.2-0.8 cm wide (usually 3-10 times longer than wide) > 7
6 Petioles 2-6(-8) cm; petals 1.8-2.2 mm wide; anthers 2.5-3 mm; California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah. Cleomella hillmanii
6 Petioles 0.8-2 cm; petals 2-4 mm wide; anthers 1.5-1.9 mm; Arizona, New Mexico, Texas. Cleomella longipes
7 Sepals deltate, 0.5-1 mm wide; styles 0.3-0.5 mm; gynophore reflexed in fruit; capsules 4-6 × 6-12 mm, rhomboidal; seeds 2-3 mm, rugose. Cleomella angustifolia
7 Sepals lanceolate, 0.5-0.7 mm wide; styles 0.8-1.2 mm; gynophore ascending in fruit; capsules 2.5-5 × 2.5-6(-8) mm, ovoid to rhomboidal; seeds 2-2.2 mm, smooth. Cleomella plocasperma
... more about "Cleomella"
conical +  and discoid +
Staria S. Vanderpool +
de Candolle in A. P de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle +
serrulate +, serrate +  and entire +
Stinkweed +
United States +  and Mexico +
Generic name Cleome, and Latin -ella, dimunitive +
adnate +  and free +
actinomorphic +
rotate;crateriform campanulate or urceolate +
dehiscent +  and indehiscent +
elongate +
ovoid +, deltoid +, globose +  and rhomboidal +
ascending +, spreading +  and reflexed +
sessile +  and stalked +
axillary +  and terminal +
arranged +  and alternate +
setaceous +, thread-like +  and 3-8-palmatifid +
1-carpellate +
distinct +
unequal +
tricolporate +  and binucleate +
in A. Pde Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. +
payson1922b +
not arillate +
gray +  and black +
reniform +  and globose +
persistent +
glandular-pubescent +  and glabrous +
spreading +  and erect +
scabrous +, pubescent +  and glabrous +
deciduous +  and caducous +
scale-like +, thread-like +  and 3-8-palmatifid +
Cleomella +
Cleomaceae +