Cleome spinosa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Neocleome spinosa
• Tarenaya spinosa
• Cleome heptaphylla
• Cleome spinosa f. pungens
• Cleome spinosa var. subinermis
• Cleome tonduzii
• Cleome viminea
• Cleome pungens
• Cleome pungens var. swartziana
• Cleome sandwicensis
• Cleome erucago

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known as Cleome spinosa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Brassicales. It is further classified within the family Cleomaceae and the genus Cleome.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across the tropical regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented within Nigeria. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, the species can be found in Cameroon and Gabon. It also inhabits the vast territories of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Consequently, its range is concentrated primarily within these central and western tropical zones.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

Cleome spinosa exhibits a broad ecological versatility, thriving across a diverse spectrum of environments ranging from highly disturbed anthropogenic areas to specialized natural ecosystems. Its habitat distribution is extensive, encompassing the semi-arid Caatinga (strictu sensu), the tropical savanna of the Cerrado (lato sensu), riparian corridors such as Gallery Forests (Floresta de Galeria) or Riparian Forests (Floresta Ciliar), and humid Ombrophilous Forests (Floresta Ombrófila). Additionally, the species has demonstrated the ability to inhabit aquatic vegetation (Vegetação Aquática). This adaptability is mirrored by its significant altitudinal tolerance, as it can be found at elevations ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Vegetação Aquática

Life history

The life history of Cleome spinosa is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological progression—from seed germination to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. As an annual species, it relies on a rapid development strategy to exploit favorable environmental conditions, prioritizing the production of a significant volume of seeds to ensure the survival of the next generation before the onset of unfavorable seasonal changes. The plant begins its life through seed germination, typically in warm soil, followed by a period of vegetative growth where it establishes its structural framework. This is succeeded by a reproductive phase where it develops inflorescences to facilitate pollination, ultimately culminating in seed maturation and the senescence of the parent plant.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Cleome spinosa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It functions as a self-supporting plant, exhibiting neither climbing nor liana-like tendencies, and it operates as an independent organism without parasitic behavior. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, lacking aquatic or epiphytic characteristics. In terms of stature, it reaches a maximum plant height of approximately 1.524 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.524018532 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cleome spinosa is characterized by a metabolic framework that utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the enzyme Rubisco within the mesophyll cells. This metabolic process involves the direct fixation of atmospheric CO2 into three-carbon compounds during the Calvin cycle, a strategy typical of many herbaceous dicots that facilitates growth under moderate environmental conditions. Alongside its carbon assimilation mechanisms, the plant exhibits specialized physiological adaptations to manage water use efficiency and nutrient uptake, supported by a vascular system designed to facilitate the translocation of water and minerals from the root zone to the photosynthetic tissues. The integration of its C3 pathway with its transpiration-driven nutrient transport allows the plant to maintain metabolic homeostasis and drive the synthesis of secondary metabolites essential for its biological functions.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cleome spinosa is characterized by a flexible flowering phenology and the production of minute seeds. The plant exhibits a highly variable flowering period that can span throughout almost the entire year, with flowering start times and peak activity observed across various months including January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December. The reproductive output culminates in the dispersal of small seeds with a highly specific mass profile; the mean seed mass is approximately 0.0017933335 g, while individual seed weights range from a minimum of 0.001 g to a maximum of 0.0022 g.

Flowering time :

Dec

Seed mass max:

0.0022 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0017933335 g

Seed mass min:

0.001 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cleome spinosa has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Microscopy research and technique

Chemicals

Cleome spinosa has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include caffeic acid.

caffeic acid

1. Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases

Preparations

Cleome spinosa has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanolic extracts of the leaves.

Methanolic extracts of the leaves

1. Microscopy research and technique