Fringed Spider Flower

Description:

Cleome rutidosperma (Capparaceae; common name: Purple Cleome, Fringed Spiderflower, Fringed Spider Flower, Spider Weed; synonym: C. ciliata). Fringed Spider Flower is an erect, branched, annual herb, growing up to 15-100 cm tall. The plant has angular stems and trifoliolate leaves on stalks 1.5-5 cm long. The leaflets are ovate to lancelike, 2-5 cm long, 0.5-2.5 cm wide. Crimson flowers, turning pink, occur singly in leaf axils. Sepals and petals are 4 in number. Petals are about a cm long. Fruit is a 2-valved, beaked capsule, 5-7 cm long, 4-5 mm wide. Fringed Spider Flower is native to Tropical Africa, naturalized in India and elsewhere. Source: http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/sl....

Habitat:

Backyard, in Biñan Laguna, Philippines.

Notes:

Host plant of Psyche (Leptosia nina malayana): http://butterflycircle.blogspot.com/2011.... Host plant of Cabbage White (Pieris canidia canidia): http://www.butterflycircle.org/pieridae/.... Host plant of Striped Albatross (Appias libythea olferna): http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist.... Considered as medicinal plant in the Philippines: http://www.stuartxchange.org/SeruWalai.h....