Cleoserrata speciosa

(Rafinesque) H. H. Iltis

Novon 17: 448. 2007.

Common names: Showy or garden spiderflower volantines-preciosos
Basionym: Cleome speciosa Rafinesque Fl. Ludov., 86. 1817
Synonyms: Cleome speciosissima Deppe ex Lindley Gynandropsis speciosa de Candolle
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 7. Treatment on page 217. Mentioned on page 218.

Plants 50–150 cm. Stems unbranched or sparsely branched; (fluted), glabrous or sparsely glandular-pubescent. Leaves: petiole 2–12 cm,(glandular-pubescent); leaflets 5–9, blade narrowly lanceolate-elliptic, 6–15 × 1–5 cm, margins entire or serrulate, apex subobtuse, surfaces glabrate to glandular-pubescent. Racemes 15–50 cm (20–60 cm in fruit, glandular-pubescent); bracts unifoliate, ovate-cordate, 3–18 mm. Pedicels 10–50 mm, (glabrous). Flowers: sepals persistent, green, lanceolate, 4–7 × 0.8–1.2 mm, glandular-pubescent; petals usually brilliant pink to purple, fading to pink or white, rarely initially white, ovate, 15–42 × 8–11 mm, clawed; stamens green, 40–85 mm, (filaments adnate to gynophore 1/3–1/2 of length); anthers 6–10 mm; gynophore 30–85 mm in fruit (filament scars visible ca. 1/4 of length); ovary 6–10 mm; style 1–1.2 mm. Capsules (irregularly contracted between seeds) 60–150 × 3–5 mm. Seeds pale green to brown, 2.5–3.5 × 1–1.2 mm, tuberculate. 2n = 48.


Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Disturbed roadsides, vacant lots
Elevation: 0-50 m

Distribution

V7 303-distribution-map.gif

Introduced; Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Cleoserrata speciosa is widespread horticulturally (with white-flowered plants not uncommon). It strongly resembles Tarenaya hassleriana (Cleome hassleriana) to the untrained eye (W. R. Ernst 1963b); considering its unique floral morphology and cytology, it remains difficult to place.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Cleoserrata speciosa"
Gordon C. Tucker +
(Rafinesque) H. H. Iltis +
Cleome speciosa +
Showy or garden spiderflower +  and volantines-preciosos +
Fla. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +  and South America. +
0-50 m +
Disturbed roadsides, vacant lots +
Flowering summer. +
Cleome speciosissima +  and Gynandropsis speciosa +
Cleoserrata speciosa +
Cleoserrata +
species +