Practical
Plants

Cleome viscosa

Tickweed

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Cleome
Life cycle
annual
Height
1.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

Leaves and young shoots - cooked as a vegetable[5]. A sharp mustard-like flavour[2]. The pungent seed can be pickled or used as a mustard substitute in curries[2][5]. The seedpods are made into pickles[2]. The juice of the plant is used as a condiment[2]. An oil obtained from the seeds is used for cooking[5].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Oil
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 leaves are diaphoretic, rubefacient and vesicant[4]. They are used as an external application to wounds and ulcers[4]. The juice of the leaves has been used to relieve earache[4]. The seeds are anthelmintic, carminative, rubefacient, stimulant and vesicant[4][5]. The seed contains 0.1% viscosic acid and 0.04% viscosin[4]. A paste of the root is applied externally in the treatment of earaches[5].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Rubefacient
Product or use
Stimulant

Environment

Range
Pantropical.
Habitat
Sandy and freely draining soils in open woodland scrub and on scree slopes in dry areas[3].
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[1]. The seed usually germinates in 5 - 14 days at 25°c[1]. 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[1].

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[3]. A frost tender plant, it can be grown as a summer annual in Britain[3].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. 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↩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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