Cleoma

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Cleome (lat. Cleome) - a genus of herbaceous plants of the small family of Cleomaceae. Previously, representatives of the genus were attributed to the Capers family, close in appearance, but in 2007, botanists decided to build the genus into a separate family. In nature, plants can be captured in North Africa and South America, some species grow in the temperate zones of the Earth. In total, there are about 70 species.

Characteristics of culture

Cleoma is represented by annuals and perennials, as well as low dwarf shrubs. They are characterized by well-branched stems, the surface of which is covered with short glandular hairs. Foliage, depending on the species, can be simple or complex, as a rule, elongated, linear, solid, alternate. The foliage located at the top most often differs from the lower foliage in size and shape.

The flowers are always correct, collected in racemose inflorescences, which, in turn, are formed at the apex of elongated peduncles. The color also depends on the species and varietal affiliation - yellow, pinkish, snow-white, purple. Fruits are small, no more than 30 mm long, in the form of a pod-shaped capsule, contain a large number of seeds. It is worth noting that in Germany and England, glue is called restenie-spider. This aspect is due to the external similarities between a flower and a spider.

Common types

Cleome prickly (lat. Cleome spinosa) represented by small dwarf shrubs, which are cultivated in culture as annuals. They are characterized by a strongly branched dense stem, the lower part of which becomes lignified over time. The plant height under normal climatic conditions and proper care exceeds the mark equal to 150 cm. The foliage of the species under consideration is petiolate, alternate, complex, pinnate, green in color. Leaves in the amount of 5-7 pieces, elongated, lanceolate, endowed with stipules.

The flowers are small, with a very specific odor, purple with a pink undertone or snow-white. Their peculiarity lies in the presence of long blue stamens. Currently, prickly glue is actively used in breeding. Nowadays, in the garden market, you can find plants endowed with rather large pink, white, dark pink, yellow and even multi-colored flowers.

Ornithopus-shaped cleoma (lat. Cleome ornithopodioides) represented by annual herbaceous plants, which do not exceed 60 cm in height. They are characterized by a branched, erect stem, the shoots of which are crowned with linear, trifoliate, whole, green foliage, the lower part of which is covered with short glandular hairs, giving the foliage a bluish tint. The flowers are pinkish or snow-white, collected in racemose inflorescences, each bearing six stamens. Flowering occurs in early summer and lasts until the end of August. It is worth noting that in nature the species in question is found in European countries, as well as in Turkey and the Caucasus.

Growing features

Since on the territory of Russia representatives of the genus are cultivated only as annuals, reproduction is carried out only by seed. Seeds are sown for seedlings in the first - second decade of March in a well-fertilized, moist soil. Seeding depth - 10 mm. A plastic wrap is stretched over the seedling box, which will accelerate the germination process.

By the way, seedlings usually appear in 14-17 days. With the appearance of 2-3 true leaves on the seedlings, they are dived in different containers, and in the first ten days of June they are planted in a permanent place, keeping a distance of 40-50 cm. Care is simple: watering, weeding, feeding with complex mineral fertilizers (at the time of planting, during the formation of buds, another month).