Practical
Plants

Cleome gynandra

African Spider Flower

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Cleome
Life cycle
annual
Height
1.3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

A decoction of the root is used to treat fevers[4][5]. The juice of the root is used to relieve scorpion stings[5]. The leaves, applied as a poultice, are used as a vesicant and rubefacient in the treatment of rheumatism[4][5]. The juice of the leaves is a remedy for pain in the ear[4]. The seeds are anthelmintic and rubefacient[4][5]. The whole plant is used in the treatment of scorpion stings and snake bites[4].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Rubefacient
Product or use
Stings

Environment

Range
Tropical and Sub-Tropical zones.
Habitat
Open areas and uncultivated land to an elevation of 300 metres in Nepal[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - surface sow or only lightly cover the seed in spring in a greenhouse[2]. The seed usually germinates in 5 - 14 days at 25°c[2]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring. Day time temperatures below 20°c depress germination but a night time fall to 20° is necessary[2].

Cultivation

Prefers a light fertile soil in a warm dry sunny position with plenty of room to spread[1][3]. A frost tender plant, it can be grown as a summer annual in Britain[3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  4. Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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