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Family: Cleomaceae
[Cleome pentaphylla L., moreGynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq., Gynandropsis pentaphylla (L.) DC.] |
Thulin, M. & L.E. Kers (1993) Cleome in Flora of Somalia 1: 53-59 Plants annual herbs; stems glandular-puberulent to -pilose. Leaves petiolate, palmately compound; petioles 3-11 cm long; blades with (3-)5-7 leaflets;leaflets up to 7 cm long and 2 cm wide, obovate or elliptic, glandular puberulent to subglabrous. Sepals (1-)3-4 mm long; petals white or pale pink, (40)10-20 mm long, subequal; androgynophore up to 2 cm long; stamens 6; gynophores 1-2.5 cm long (in fruit). Capsules 40-100 mm long, 2.5-7 mm wide (wider in cultivated forms) glandular pubescent to subglabrous; seeds 1-1.5 mm in diamter, brown, with low tranverse and longitudinal ridges. Cleome gynandra grows in wet places, often being weedy, and in open dune vegetation. The Flora of Somalia reports it for regions N1, N3, C1, S1, and S2. It is also widespread in Africa, Madagascar, the Sechelles, and tropical and subtropical Asia and has been introduced to the Americas. Plants found on dunes in region C1 of Somalia are exceptionally small-flowered, with sepals about 1 mm long and petals about 4 mm long. ©Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Reproduced with permission.
Jaffri, S.M.H. (1973) Cappparidaceae in Flora of West Pakistan 34 Plants annual herbs, erct or suberct 10-50(-90) cm tall, often glandular hairy. Leaves petiolate; petioles (1-)3-10 cm long; blades varying greatly in size, digitally compound, with 3-7 leaflets; leaflets obovate to elliptic, 1-5(-6) cm long, 0.5-3 cm wide, margins finely crenate to subentire, tips usually acute to slightly acuminate. Inflorescences showy, up to 30 cm long, bracteate; bracts much smaller than the leaves. Flowers pedicellate; pedicels usually 1-2 cm long; sepals 4, ovate to lanceolate, 2-5(-8) mm long, glandular; corollas 1-2 cm across, usually white or pinkish, petals 4, obovate and long-clawed, 9-20 mm long, 4-10 mm wi=ide; androphores 15-25 mm long; stamens usually about 10, verticillate, usually 10-15 mm long, subequal, spreading from the androphores, filaments often pinkish or purplish; gynophores 10-20 mm long, usually shorter in flowers bur lengthening in fruit; styles 1-2 mm long. Fruits capsules, (1.5-3-7(-12) cm long, 0.2-0.5(-0.8) cm wide, linear, narrowed towards both ends, glandular pubescent, finely and obliquely striate; seeds many, 1-1.8 mm in diameter, finely longitudinally striate, with slightly cristate transverse ridges, dark brown. Cleome gynandra is widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In Africa, a form with very large capsules (up to 15 cm long and 1.2 cm wide) is cultivated as a vegetable. The other species that used to be included in Gynandropsis, Clemoe speciosa, is native to Central and South America but is sometimes culticated as an ornamental. It is glabrous and has larger leaves and flowers than Cleome gynandra. Cleome gynandra is used as a green vegetable. The leaves and flowers are both edible. The leaves have a strong bitter, sometimes peppery flavor similar to mustard greens. Typically, the leaves and shoots are eaten boiled or in stews. The leaves are often eaten in Sub-Saharan Africa, where they are often dried for storage, then cooked with milk or butter to reduce its bitter taste. In Uganda and Tanzania, the leaves are cooked with groundnut paste. The plant is useful for intercropping due to its insect repellent properties. In Thailand, the leaves are a popular food item fermented with rice water as a pickle known as "phak sian dong". The same pickle is also eaten in the northern states of Malaysia, and is known as "jeruk maman". Cleome gynandra is high in beta-carotene, folic acid, ascorbic acid and calcium. It also contains vitamin E, iron, and oxalic acid. Generally, the leaves are about 4.0% protein. The leaves also have antioxidative properties that can help with inflammatory diseases. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is sometimes used as a medicinal herb. |
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