Species Detail Forb

Flower heads		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Cleome lutea - yellow spiderflower Synonyms: Peritoma lutea Other Common Names: yellow beeplant, yellow caper, golden caper Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub Family: Capparaceae
Flower heads


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Plant Patrick Alexander @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)	Leaves and flowers Liz Makings @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)

Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native Life Cycle: Annual
General Desc: An erect leafy plant, branching mostly in the upper portions. Small yellow flowers crowd together in elongated, showy clusters at the top of stems.
Identification notes: Petals pale yellow to 1/4 inch long with filaments about a 1/2 inch long. Leaflets mostly 5, sometimes 7.
Height: To 5 feet

Habitat

Habitat Description: Along streams and in other moist areas; sandy flats; desert plains; weedy roadsides.
Plant Communities: Desert Scrub, Interior Chaparral, Semidesert Grasslands, Riparian, Disturbed Areas
Elevation: 2000 - 6000 feet

Flower Characteristics

Color: Pale yellow Shape: Irregular in elongated clusters Tubular: N Flowering Period: May - Aug
Description: Flowers have 4 petals, each about 1/4 inch long, and 6 yellow stamens that are longer than the flowers. Clusters can appear rounded in appearance particularly when young.

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Green Leaf Type: Compound Leaf Shape: Palmate Leaf Margin: Smooth Leaf Attachment: Alternate Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: No Spines: N
Leaf Description: Leaves on the lower part of the plant consist of leaflets that are lance shaped to 2-1/2 inches long. Small, singular upper leaves occur on the flowering stems.

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Type: Pod
Fruit Notes: Slender pod 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches long, on long arched stalk jointed at middle.
Seed Notes: Rough, rounded seeds.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer