Fringed Spider Flower

Cleome rutidosperma

IMPORTANT: IF YOU SUSPECT THE PRESENCE OF THIS PLANT, PLEASE REPORT IT BY CALLING 1800 084 881 (local call cost anywhere in Australia) or REPORT IT ONLINE.

Alternative Name(s): Spider Weed.

Family: Capparidaceae.

Form: Herb

Origin: Native of tropical Africa.

Flowers/Seedhead: Flowers: Flowers with 4 hairy sepals to 4 mm long; stamens 6. Flowers most of year.

Description: Herb to 1 m high. Stems angular, with scattered soft bristles. Leaves with 3 ovate to spearshaped (lanceolate) leaflets, 2–5 cm long, 0.5–2.5 cm wide, margins with short bristles; leaf stalk to 5 cm long. Capsule cylindrical 5–7 cm long, to 5 mm wide, on stalks to 1 cm long. Seeds brown to black, about 2 mm wide.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by leaves consisting of 3 leaflets; flowers solitary in the leaf axils with petals on upper side; petals 4, 9–12 mm long (including section before the bend that is 2–3 mm long), crimson turning pink with age; seeds kidney-shaped with cross ribs and a white appendage (elaiosome).

Dispersal: Spread by seed, by water, in farm machinery, farm produce and often by ants.

Confused With: Other Cleome species but the seeds and flower colour are characteristic (see above).