Cleome hirta (KI.) Oliv.

Global description
 
C. hirta is a branched erect plant, annual or shortly perennial, up to 180 cm in height, glandular, with unpleasant smell. The leaves are alternate, compound with 5 to 7 or 9 digitate leaflets linear to elliptic linear, 10 to 75 mm long and 1 to 5 mm wide, becoming smaller towards the top, provided with glandular hairs, glandular petiole with length varying from 0.5 to 9 cm. The inflorescence is a terminal cluster 10 to 30 cm long; bracts resemble small leaves but are sessile, usually 3-5 leaflets. Flowers bisexual, linear sepals of 4 to 12 mm long, glandular pubescent, elliptic petals, pink to purple, 10 to 18 mm long, with 10-12 stamens. The fruits are cylindrical capsules of 6 to15 cm long and 3 to 4 mm in diameter, peduncle up to 2 cm, glandular hairy, dehiscent by 2 valves.
 
Cotyledons
 
The cotyledons have a lanceolate linear blade 12 mm to over 30 mm, held by a stalk 8 to 18 mm long.
 
First leaves
 
The first leaves are alternate, palmately compound with 3-5 linear leaflets of 6 to 20 mm, and with petiole 10 to 25 mm long.
 
 
General habit
 
Branched erect plant, sub-woody at the base, sticky, densely covered with glands, reaching 180 cm in height.
 
Underground system
 
Taproot, more or less woody.
 
Stem
 
Stem erect, striated, slightly to highly branched, densely covered with glands.
 
Leaves
 
Leaves alternate, palmately compound. They are composed of 5-7 to 9 digitate leaflets linear to elliptic linear, 10 to 75 mm long and 1to 5 mm wide, becoming smaller towards the top, provided with glandular hairs. The petiole is glandular with length varying from 0.5 to 9 cm.
 
Inflorescence
 
The inflorescence is in terminal cluster, 10 to 30 cm and up to 40 cm long; bracts resemble like small leaves but are sessile and usually with 3 to 5 leaflets.
 
Flower
 
The flowers are bisexual. They are held by pubescent and glandular pedicels, reaching 1.8 cm long. The calyx consists of four sepals narrowly lanceolate, 4 to 12 mm long, glandular pubescent; the petals are oblong-lanceolate, 2 cm of 4 mm, clearly provided with a claw at the base at about one third of the length. They are pink to purple with a yellowish transversal area in the middle. There is usually 10 to 12 stamens, in fine filaments, reaching up to 2.5 cm in height, sub-equal, glandular pubescent base. The ovary is superior, 1-celled, linear-cylindrical, stalked, glandular pubescent, style 2 mm long.
 
Fruit
 
The fruit is a linear cylindrical capsule 6to 16 cm long and 3 to 4 mm in diameter, with peduncle up to 2 cm. It is glandular pubescent, dehiscent by 2 valves.
 
Seed
 
Seeds are discoid, 2 to 2.5 mm in diameter; the seed coat is dark brown, with fine longitudinal striations and with sides transversely marked.

Origin
Species native to Central and East Africa.
 
Global distribution
This species occurs in tropical Africa, Central and Eastern, Southern Africa and Madagascar.

https://www.gbif.org/species/3872435