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Cleome gynandra - L.

Common Name African Spider Flower, Spiderwisp
Family Capparidaceae
USDA hardiness 8-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Open areas and uncultivated land to an elevation of 300 metres in Nepal[272].
Range Tropical and Sub-Tropical zones.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Cleome gynandra African Spider Flower, Spiderwisp


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cleome_gynandra_Blanco1.233-cropped.jpg
Cleome gynandra African Spider Flower, Spiderwisp
http://www.hear.org/starr/

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Cleome gynandra is a ANNUAL growing to 1.3 m (4ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in leaf from May to October, in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Gynandropsis gynandra. (L.)Briq. G. pentaphylla. DC.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anthelmintic  Febrifuge  Rubefacient  Stings

A decoction of the root is used to treat fevers[243, 272]. The juice of the root is used to relieve scorpion stings[272]. The leaves, applied as a poultice, are used as a vesicant and rubefacient in the treatment of rheumatism[243, 272]. The juice of the leaves is a remedy for pain in the ear[243]. The seeds are anthelmintic and rubefacient[243, 272]. The whole plant is used in the treatment of scorpion stings and snake bites[243].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a light fertile soil in a warm dry sunny position with plenty of room to spread[1, 200]. A frost tender plant, it can be grown as a summer annual in Britain[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - surface sow or only lightly cover the seed in spring in a greenhouse[164]. The seed usually germinates in 5 - 14 days at 25°c[164]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring. Day time temperatures below 20°c depress germination but a night time fall to 20° is necessary[164].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Shona cabbage, African cabbage, spiderwisp, cat's whiskers,chinsaga, stinkweed. Adikyakharan, African spider-flower, Akeyo, Akiya, Alot dek, Amazonde, Ansarisha, Apoy-apoyan, Arkapushpika, Bagra, Balaya, Bangara, Bastard-mustard, Bhubhuwan, Chamani, Churota, Ejjobyo, Ekaboi, Ekeyo, Ekiau, Enceng-enceng, Eshoje, Eyobyo, Gandhuli, Gasaya, Ghandhatu, Hulul, Isaga, Jirri, Kadughoo, Kanphodi, Karavela, Kathal, Kattkadugu, Ketota, Knasi, Kornia, Langsana, Lerotho, Lubanga, Lude, Luni, Mamang, Manabo, Mangmang trang, Marang charmani, Mgagani, Mgange, Momienh, Motitlavan, Mutaka, Narum byale soppu, Neivaylla, Nsila, Nyevhe, Nyovhi, Pak-sian, Paksienedit, Pandharitilavan, Parhar, Phak sian, Rothwe, Rudhe, Runi, Sada hurhuria, Satitalvani, Seta kata arak, Sienz, Sishungwa, Shungwa, Spiderwisp, Suntha, Surjavarta, Taivela, Taiwela, Tegeri, Thaivalaikeerai, Tim-Légué, Tsuna, Ulube, Ulude, Umzonde, Vainta, Valay keeray, Vaminta, Velai, Velakura.

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Oman, Yemen, China TROPICAL ASIA: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines AFRICA: Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte D‘Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa (Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North-West)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Cleome gynandra is considered an invasive weed in many places in the U.S. and in the Pacific.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cleome luteaYellow Spiderflower, Jones spiderflowerAnnual1.2 3-8  LMNDM211
Cleome monophylla Annual0.5 -  LMNDM21 
Cleome ornithopodioidesBird spiderflowerAnnual0.3 0-0  LMNDM10 
Cleome serrulataRocky Mountain BeeplantAnnual1.0 3-8  LMSNDM312
Cleome viscosaTickweed, Asian spiderflowerAnnual1.5 0-0  LMNDM22 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Flora Sicolani Todlana   Sat May 15 14:10:56 2004

Cleome gynandra is an adible plant found in Zimbabwe mostly, during rain season. This wild plant is eaten fresh as relish and may be cooked and dried for cunsumption during dry seasons. It is called "ULUDE" in Zulu or Ndebele. It tastes very bitter originally, but boiling it with vegetable oil, tomatoes and a pinch of salt makes is a good relish. Author's name: Flo Todlana. [email protected]

F Lakor   Sun Mar 12 2006

Flora Sicolani Todlana-Lakor Cleome gynandra is an adible plant found in Zimbabwe mostly, during rain season. This wild plant is eaten fresh as relish and may be cooked and dried for consumption during dry seasons. It is called "ULUDE" in Zulu or Ndebele. It tastes very bitter (highly alkaloidal) originally, but cooking/boiling it with vegetable oil, tomatoes/onions and a pinch of salt makes is a good relish. Author's name: F Todlana-Lakor.

   Thu Mar 27 2008

Cleome gynandra is a well known and used edibla plant for the majority people in namivbia, the Wambo, living in their reagon in the NOth called Owambo. It is called in their languga eOshiwambo "Ombidi" and prepared like spinach. In English the Wambo call the plant "wild spinach".

   Thu Mar 27 2008

Cleome gynandra is a well known and edible plant for the majority people in Namibia, the Wambo, living in their reagon in the North of Namibia called Owambo. It is called in their language Oshiwambo "Ombidi" and prepared like spinach. In English the Wambo call the plant "wild spinach".

Loma Fefe Sigogo   Wed May 21 2008

Flora Sicolani Todlana-Lakor Cleome gynandra is an adible plant found in Zimbabwe mostly, during rain season. This wild plant is eaten fresh as relish and may be cooked and dried for consumption during dry seasons. It is called "ULUDE" in Zulu or Ndebele. It tastes very bitter (highly alkaloidal) originally, but cooking/boiling it with vegetable oil, tomatoes/onions and a pinch of salt makes it a good relish. Author's name: F Todlana

Melenia Khuzwayo   Tue Jul 22 2008

Ulude can not be classified for any medical reasons or use. Class = Food

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