Spider flower, Cat's-whiskers
Cleome gynandra

Family: Cleomaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It grows to 0.6-0.9 m. It has a long tap root. It is erect and somewhat hairy. It usually has purple stems. The leaves occur one after another along the stalk. The leaf stalk is long. There are 5-7 leaflets which are unequal and spread out at the end. They are oblong and about 2.5-6 cm long by 1.4-3.2 cm wide. The leaflets are pointed at the base and a rounder near the tip with a rounder point at the tip. There are fine teeth along the edges of the leaves. The flowers are white or purple They occur in long flower clusters at the end of branches. These are 30 cm long. The flower clusters are showy with white or purplish flowers and a spidery like appearance. The fruit are a slender capsule with 2 valves and with many small seeds. They are 5-10 cm long and very narrow. The seeds are kidney shaped and rough. They are brown and have fine lines along them. They are 1-1.5 mm across.

Plants are high in Vitamin A and Vitamin C and calcium and iron. There are about 150 Cleome species. It has a C4 photosynthetic pathway. It has 6.7 mg per 100 g dry weight and 3.6 mg fresh weight of alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E).

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It commonly occurs as a self sown weed on cultivated land. It grows in warm or tropical regions. It grows at a range of elevations but especially above 600 m altitude. It will grow in semi arid, to wet humid climates. It will grow on many soil types, but needs fertile soil for good leaf production. A temperature of 18-25°C seems best. Plants need plenty of sunlight. They are not drought resistant but can produce a crop with short periods of rain. Plants cannot withstand flooding. A common weed of waste places throughout the Philippines as well as other tropical countries. It is often abundant near the sea and near Baguio. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan. In Ethiopia it grows between 450-1,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Equatorial-Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guiana, Guinea, Guianas, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Lesser Antilles, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Rwanda, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten. If they are cooked the bitter taste is reduced. They are also used in flavouring sauces. The leaves are also blanched, dried and stored. The flowers can be eaten. Young pods are also eaten. The oil from the seeds is edible without needing to be refined. The leaves can be candied in vinegar or in salt water, then eaten with fish. The seeds are used as a spice in curries. Caution: Fresh plants can contain hydrocyanic acid and should be cooked.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. This plant is being recognised by scientists as a useful vegetable. It is popular in Malawi and Zimbabwe. It is not known if it is eaten in Papua New Guinea. It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, pods, seeds, vegetable, caution, seeds - oil

How it is grown

The plant is grown from seed. The seed are broadcast. Fertile soil is needed to get plants with good leaf coverage. The seed germinate erratically, because the seed have a rest period after harvest. Seed germinate best 6 months after harvest. Once they are ready to grow, they germinate in 4-5 days. Leaves or whole plants can be harvested when 15 cm high. Picking out the tops encourages side growth and longer leaf production. Removing flowers extends the harvest period.

Leaves can be harvested 4-5 weeks after planting. They can be harvested regularly or the whole plant up-rooted. Seeds reach maturity about 5 months after sowing. Leaves can be dried and stored.

Its other names

Local names

Adikyakharan, African spider-flower, Akaya, Akeo, Akeyo, Akiya, Alot dek, Amazonde, Amokabek, Ansarisha, Apoy-apoyan, Arkapushpika, Arwouessamboe, Bagra, Balaya, Bangara, Bastard-mustard, Bhubhuwan, Booti, Caravalla, Chamani, Churota, Ditchefouwounti, Ecadoi, Ejjobyo, Ekaboi, Ekeyo, Ekiau, Enceng-enceng, Eshoje, Eyobyo, Foubeyi, Gandhuli, Gangala, Garcia, Gasaya, Ghandhatu, Hingala, Hulul, Hurhura, Irraiso, Isaga, Ithea-utuka, Jirri, Junge phool, Kadughoo, Kanphodi, Karavela, Kathal, Kattkadugu, Kec nuom, Ketota, Kiyepieti, Knasi, Kokomen, Kornia, Langsana, Lerote, Lerotho, Lothue, Lubanga, Lude, Luni, Mamang, Manabo, Mangmang trang, Marang charmani, Mgagani, Mgange, Momienh, Motitlavan, Mukakai, Mumpala, Murudi, Mutaka, Mwaanzo, Mwaianzo, Nah sebe, Narum byale soppu, Neivaylla, Nimvi, Nsila, Nyevhe, Nyovhi, Pak-sian, Paksienedit, Pandharitilavan, Pandri-tilwan, Pandru sirio, Parhar, Phak sian, Raab, Rothwe, Rudhe, Runi, Sabo, Sada hurhuria, Sageti, Sake, Satitalvani, Seta kata arak, Shemeda, Sienz, Sishungwa, Shungwa, Sowounboyi, Spiderwisp, Suntha, Surjavarta, Taivela, Taiwela, Tamaleka, Taw-hingala, Tegeri, Thaivalaikeerai, Tichawoch, Tim-Légué, Titchefouwounti, Tsisaka, Tsuna, Ulube, Ulude, Umzonde, Vainta, Valay keeray, Vaminta, Velai, Velakura

Synonyms

Cleome acuta Schumach. & Thonn.; Cleome alliaceae Blanco; Cleome alliodora Blanco; Cleome blumeana D. Dietr.; Cleome blumeana Schult.f.; Cleome bungei Steud.; Cleome candelabrum Sims; Cleome denticulata Schult. & Schult.f.; Cleome eckloniana Schrad.; Cleome flexuosa F. Dietr. ex Schult & Schult.f.; Cleome heterotricha Burch.; Cleome lupinifolia Bartram; Cleome muricata (Schrad.) Schult & Schut.f.; Cleome oleracea Welw.; Cleome pentaphylla L.; Cleome triphylla L.; Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Merr.; Gynandropsis heterotricha (Burch.) DC.; Gynandropsis pentaphylla (L.) DC.; and others