''Cleome sparsifolia'' is a species of
cleome
''Cleome'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cleomaceae, commonly known as spider flowers, spider plants, spider weeds, or bee plants. Previously, it had been placed in the family Capparaceae, until DNA studies found the Cleomaceae ge ...
known by the common names fewleaf cleome and fewleaf spiderflower. This annual wildflower is native to
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
and
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...
where it grows in desert sand. This is an erect, branching plant not exceeding a meter in height. Its sparse leaves are each made up of 3 thick, oval-shaped leaflets. The bright yellow flowers have curving petals and long
stamen
The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10
Morphology and terminology
A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...
s tipped with knobby anthers. The fruit is a capsule up to 4 centimeters long.
References
External links
Jepson Manual TreatmentPhoto gallery
sparsifolia
North American desert flora
{{Brassicales-stub