Cleome Pinnata is a flowering plant native to South America. The word "Cleome" is spelled as /kliːoʊm/ (klee-ohm), with emphasis on the first syllable, and the "e" pronounced as a long "ee" sound. "Pinnata" is spelled as /pɪnˈeɪtə/ (pin-AY-tuh), with emphasis on the second syllable, and the "i" in the first syllable pronounced as a short "ih" sound. When pronounced together, it becomes klee-ohm pin-AY-tuh. This unique spelling is important for accurate identification of the plant species.
Cleome Pinnata is a flowering plant species that belongs to the Cleomaceae family. Commonly known as the spider flower or purple cleome, it is native to tropical regions of the Americas, including parts of South America and Central America.
The Cleome Pinnata plant typically grows upright and can reach a height of up to six feet. It has slender, green stems and leaves that are palmately compound, consisting of five to seven leaflets. The leaflets are elongated and toothed along the edges.
The most distinctive feature of Cleome Pinnata is its unique flowers. The flowers form in elongated racemes, with each raceme containing numerous individual flowers. Each flower has four large, showy petals, typically colored in shades of purple or pink, although white and yellow varieties also exist. The petals are often streaked or veined, adding to the flower's visual appeal. The stamens are long and filamentous, resembling spider legs, hence the plant's common name.
Cleome Pinnata is a hardy plant that can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions and is often grown in gardens as an ornamental plant. It is known for attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Furthermore, the plant has been utilized in traditional medicine for its potential medicinal properties, with various parts of the plant being used to treat ailments ranging from digestive disorders to skin infections.
The word "Cleome" is derived from the Greek word "kleos", which means "fame" or "glory". The term "Pinnata" comes from the Latin word "pinnatus", meaning "feathered" or "finely divided". In the case of Cleome pinnata, "Cleome" refers to the genus name, while "Pinnata" specifies the species, indicating the finely divided or feathery appearance of its leaves.