Large-leaved cleome
Cleome macrophylla

Family: Cleomaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows each year from seeds. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are more than 2 mm wide. The leaf stalks are long. The flowers are in groups at the ends of stalks. The flowers are mauve with purple markings. The fruit capsule is 7-10 mm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows along rivers and on shallow soil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

They are cooked and the water changed several times before eating.

Edible parts

Leaves, stem, flowers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Chilocalyx macrophyllus Klotzsch; Chilocalyx tenuifolius Klotzsch; Cleome inconcinna Briq.; Cleome macrophylla var. maculatiflora (Merxm.) Wild; Cleome nationae Burtt-Davy; Tetrateleia nationae (Burtt-Davy) Pax & K. Hoffm. Tetratelia tenuifolia (Klotzsch) Arwidss.;