Common names:
Bladderpod bush, bladderpod spiderflower
Family:
Scientific name:
Cleome isomeris
Synonyms:
Isomeris arborea, peritoma arborea
Main flower color:
Range:
South California and a small area of central Arizona
Height:
Between 2 and 6 feet
Habitat:
Sandy washes, open plains, up to 4,300 feet
Leaves:
Oblong to elliptic, alternate, less than 2 inches long, on short stalks, Single or divided
Season:
December to June
Cleome isomeris is a medium sized, woody, many-branched shrub, reaching a height and width of 5 feet, growing across south California and a small area of Maricopa County, Arizona. Stems, leaves, pedicels and calyces are covered by very fine, soft hairs. The grey-green leaves are short, pointed at the tip, and often partly folded upwards along the axis. Those higher up the stem are simple, those lower down may be divided into 3 to 5 leaflets.
Numerous flowers are produced along the upper part of the stems (up to 10 inches); they consist of four partly fused green sepals, four yellow petals about half an inch long, six exserted, thick, all-yellow stamens and a central style. Seed pods are inflated green (later brown) capsules, up to 2 inches long, hanging downwards. There are three varieties (angustata, arborea, globosa), differing only in the shape of the fruit.
Numerous flowers are produced along the upper part of the stems (up to 10 inches); they consist of four partly fused green sepals, four yellow petals about half an inch long, six exserted, thick, all-yellow stamens and a central style. Seed pods are inflated green (later brown) capsules, up to 2 inches long, hanging downwards. There are three varieties (angustata, arborea, globosa), differing only in the shape of the fruit.
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