Practical
Plants

Cleome monophylla

an annual member of the Cleome genus in the family Capparidaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Cleome
Life cycle
annual
Height
0.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - cooked and used like spinach[3]. The young shoots and flowers can also be used[3]. The pungent seed is used as a mustard substitute[3].

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Leaves

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.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The pounded root is put on the lips to restore consciousness when in a faint[5].

Product or use
Restorative

Environment

Range
S. Africa.
Habitat
A weed of fields and waste places[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

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a light fertile soil in a warm dry sunny position with plenty of room to spread[1][4]. A frost tender plant, it can be grown as a summer annual in Britain[4].

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. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

  5. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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