Flora Zambesiaca

Taxon Detail

FZ volume:1 part:1 (1960) Capparidaceae by H. Wild

(Search other Kew databases for: Cleome monophylla)

Cleome monophylla L.

Sp. Pl. 2: 672 (1753). — Sond. in Harv. & Sond., F.C. 1: 56 (1860). — Oliv., F.T.A. 1: 76 (1868). — Bak. f. in Journ. Linn. Soc., Bot. 40: 20 (1911). — R.E.Fr., Wiss. Ergebn. Schwed. Rhod.–Kongo-Exped. 1: 49 (1914). — Gilg & Bened. in Engl., Bot. Jahrb. 53: 153 (1915). — Eyles in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr. 5: 355 (1916). — Burtt Davy, F.P.F.T. 1: 120 (1926). — Arwidss. in Bot. Notis. 1935: 357 (1935). — Exell & Mendonça, C.F.A. 1 1: 54 (1937). — Hauman & Wilczek, F.C.B. 2: 511 (1951). Type from India.

Synonyms:

Cleome epilobioides Bak.

in Kew Bull. 1897: 243 (1897). Type: Nyasaland, Mt. Mlanje, Whyte (K, holotype).

Distribution:

Botswana

N: Ngamiland, fl. & fr. xii.1896, Lugard 95 (K).

SE: Mochudi, fl. & fr. i.1915, Harbor (PRE; SRGH).

Malawi

C: Dowa, Mwera Hill, fl. & fr. 26.i.1954, Jackson 1197 (BM).

N: Mzimba, Mkawa Exp. Sta., fl. & fr. 5.iv.1955, Jackson 1583 (K; SRGH).

S: Blantyre, Lirangwe, fl. 13.i.1956, Jackson 1810 (K; SRGH).

Mozambique

GI: Lower Buzi, fl. & fr. xii.1906, Swynnerton 2111 (BM; K).

M: Vila Luiza, fl. & fr. 7.iv.1947, Barbosa 130 (COI; LM; SRGH).

MS: Chimoio, Garuso, fl. & fr. 3.iii.1948, Barbosa 1079 (BM; LISC).

N: Massangulo, fl. & fr. i.1933, Gomes e Sousa 1231 (COI).

T: Tete, fl. & fr. ii.1859, Kirk (K).

Z: Namagoa, Mocuba, fl. 17.iii.1949, Faulkner 413 (COI; K; SRGH).

Zambia

C: 10 km. E. of Lusaka, fl. 30.L1956, King 294 (K).

E: Ft. Jameson, Msoro Mission, fl. & fr. xii.1930, Bush 12 (K).

N: Miloko, Luapula R., fl. & fr. 6.ix.1953, Fanshawe 276 (K; SRGH).

S: Dundwa, 10 km. S. of Mapanza, fl. & fr. 6.iv.1953, Robinson 160 (K).

W: Mwinilunga, fl. & fr. 26.xii.1937, Milne-Redhead 3829 (BM; K).

Zimbabwe

C: Rusape, fl. & fr. 1952, Dehn 140/52 (K; M; PRE; SRGH).

E: Inyanga, Cheshire, fl. & fr. 4.ii.1931, Norlindh & Weimarck 4854 (BM; LD; PRE; SRGH).

N: Shamva, fl. & fr. xii.1932, Leviseur (PRE; SRGH).

S: Chibi Distr., fl. 5.xii.1954, Robinson 454 (SRGH).

W: Bulawayo, fr. 18.ii.1912, Rogers 5757 (K; SRGH).

Range:

Widely distributed through Africa, India and Ceylon.

Habitat:

Often occurs as an annual weed but is also a common constituent of many vegetation types at all altitudes.

Description:

Erect annual herb to 0.6 m. tall, usually branched. Stems pubescent with some hairs gland-tipped. Leaves petiolate; lamina 2–7.5 x 0.3–2.5 cm., linear-lanceolate to oblong, acute or subacute at the apex, rounded or slightly cordate at the base, entire, pubescent on both sides with hairs often glandular; petiole up to 3 cm. long (often less), pubescent. Inflorescence a raceme, elongating in fruit; bracts sessile, similar to the leaves but slightly more cordate at the base and smaller; pedicels slender, glandular-pubescent, up to 1 cm. long, elongating in fruit up to 2 cm. Sepals up to 5 mm. long, linear-lanceolate, caudate or long-acuminate at the apex, pubescent outside with some hairs glandular. Petals pale rose or mauve, with a yellow band bordered with purple on the upper two, rarely white, lamina up to 9 mm. long, oblong, rounded at the apex, narrowing into a basal claw somewhat shorter than the lamina. Stamens 6, unequal, all fertile; filaments slender, up to 1 cm. long, glabrous; anthers oblong, c. 1.5 mm. long. Ovary almost sessile, c. 1.5 mm. long, linear-oblong, puberulous; style very short; stigma capitate. Capsule up to c. 10 cm. long, narrowly linear, puberulous, straight or slightly curved, narrowed to both ends with up to 6 longitudinal, anastomosing nerves on each valve; gynophore very short, up to 2 mm. long; style persistent. Seeds dark brown, c. 1.8 mm. in diam., radially ridged with the ridges bearing minute puberulous incrustations visible only at a x 40 magnification.

Notes:

It has been recorded as a host of Tobacco Aphis in Nyasaland and is widely used by natives as a relish.