African cabbage

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pedicellaria gynandra
• Gynandropsis candelabrum
• Cleome gynandra var. nana
• Pedicellaria pentaphylla
• Gynandropsis pentaphylla
• Cleome muricata
• Gynandropsis pentaphylla var. nana
• Gynandropsis heterotricha
• Gynandropsis muricata
• Gynandropsis ophitocarpa
• Gynandropsis triphylla
• Cleome acuta
• Gynandropsis affinis
• Podogyne pentaphylla
• Cleome flexuosa
• Gynandropsis denticulata
• Gynandropsis glandulosa
• Cleome eckloniana
• Gynandropsis gynandra
• Cleome denticulata
• Gynandropsis viscida
• Gynandropsis sessilifolia
• Gynandropsis sinica
• Cleome alliacea
• Cleome alliodora
• Cleome candelabrum
• Gynandropsis palmipes
• Cleome bungei
• Cleome blumeana
• Sinapistrum pentaphyllum
• Cleome heterotricha
• Cleome triphylla
• Cleome pentaphylla
• Cleome pentaphylla var. glabra
• Cleome oleracea
• Cleome sessilifolia
• Cleome pentaphylla var. hirsuta
• Pedicellaria pentaphylla var. hirsutissima

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Brassicales and the family Cleomaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cleome.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning across several continents and diverse climatic regions. In Southwestern Europe, it can be found growing in Spain. Its presence extends into Northern Africa, specifically within the territories of Egypt and Libya. Additionally, the species is located in the Macaronesian region, notably in Cape Verde. Finally, its range reaches West Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Benin.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cleome gynandra is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a broad altitudinal distribution. It can be found inhabiting a wide range of elevations, starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 1800 m AMSL, though it is also frequently documented within specific ranges such as 100 to 500 m AMSL. This species exhibits high ecological plasticity, thriving in varied habitats including the semi-arid Caatinga (strictu sensu) and aquatic vegetation, as well as more complex ecosystems such as Campo Rupestre, seasonal semi-deciduous forests (Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual), and ombrophilous or rain forests (Floresta Ombrófila). Furthermore, it demonstrates a capacity to colonize specialized niches, such as vegetation growing over rocky outcrops (Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos), allowing it to persist across a spectrum of moisture levels and geological substrates.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Caatinga (stricto sensu), Vegetação Aquática

Habitat :

Campo Rupestre, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos

Genetics

The genetics of Cleome gynandra are characterized by significant karyotypic variation, which is reflected in its diverse chromosome numbers. Observed chromosome numbers within the species include 20, 30, 32, 34, and 36, indicating a complex genomic structure that may contribute to its evolutionary adaptability. Despite this numerical variation, the plant typically functions at a diploid ploidy level, with a ploidy level of 2.

Chromosome number :

20, 30, 32, 34, 36

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Cleome gynandra is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. In terms of its ecological life form, it is classified as a therophyte, a strategy where the plant survives unfavorable conditions through highly resistant seeds rather than through persistent vegetative structures. This therophytic nature allows it to rapidly colonize disturbed habitats and ephemeral environments, ensuring its survival through a cycle of quick growth and prolific seeding before the onset of seasonal stress.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Cleome gynandra is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It functions as a self-supporting plant, meaning it does not require external support such as a vine or liana to grow, and it is classified as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant is strictly terrestrial, lacking any aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, and does not exhibit epiphytic behavior. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits variable height, with a minimum height of 0.25 m, a maximum height of 1.5 m, and a mean height of approximately 0.95 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.9548037065 m

Plant height min:

0.25 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Cleome gynandra is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its foliar morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 7.5 cm, while leaf widths vary between 1 cm and 3.8 cm. Additionally, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, relying instead on available soil nitrogen for its developmental needs.

Leaf length max:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

3.8 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cleome gynandra is characterized by the production of white flowers that give way to the development of fruit categorized as a capsule. These capsules vary in size, with a length ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 11 cm. Upon maturity, the fruit is dehiscence, meaning it splits open to release its seeds. The seeds themselves are minute, possessing a minimum length of 2 mm and a maximum length of 2.3 mm, with a minimum width of 1.2 mm and a maximum width of 15 mm. In terms of vertical dimension, the seed height ranges from a minimum of 0.12 mm to a maximum of 0.15 mm. The mass of the seeds is also quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.000883333 g, fluctuating between a minimum of 0.00078 g and a maximum of 0.00094 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flower colour :

white

Fruit length max:

11 cm

Fruit length min:

3 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Seed height max:

0.15 mm

Seed height min:

0.12 mm

Seed length max:

2.3 mm

Seed length min:

2 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00094 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000883333 g

Seed mass min:

0.00078 g

Seed width max:

15 mm

Seed width min:

1.2 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cleome gynandra has 4 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, seed, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Frontiers in chemistry
3. Fitoterapia

Root

1. Fitoterapia

Seed

1. Journal of natural products

Stem

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Cleome gynandra has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CALCIUM, IRON, POTASSIUM, ZINC, Flavonoids.

CALCIUM

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Frontiers in chemistry

IRON

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Frontiers in chemistry

POTASSIUM

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Frontiers in chemistry

ZINC

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Frontiers in chemistry

Flavonoids

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Glucocapparin

1. Fitoterapia

MAGNESIUM

1. Frontiers in plant science

MANGANESE

1. Frontiers in plant science

Nitrogen

1. Frontiers in plant science

PHOSPHORUS

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Conditions

Cleome gynandra has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include burns, cancer, fungal diseases, malaria, ringworm.

Burns

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fungal diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ringworm

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tinea versicolor

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Vitiligo

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Cleome gynandra has 5 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extracts from the stem, Methanolic extracts, extracts from either leaf or stem, leaf of natural plants, root extracts.

Extracts from the stem

1. Fitoterapia

Methanolic extracts

1. Fitoterapia

Extracts from either leaf or stem

1. Fitoterapia

Leaf of natural plants

1. Fitoterapia

Root extracts

1. Fitoterapia