| Cleome isomeris | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Cleomaceae |
| Genus: | Cleome |
| Species: | C. isomeris |
| Binomial name | |
| Cleome isomeris Greene |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Isomeris arborea Nutt. |
|
Cleome isomeris (syn. Isomeris arborea) is a perennial species of cleome known by the common names bladderpod, burrofat, and California cleome. It is native to California and Baja California where it grows in a variety of habitats from coastal bluffs to desert arroyos. It is a densely branching shrub reaching one half to two meters in height. Its leaves are made up of three equal leaflike leaflets, each a long, pointed oval one to four centimeters long. The plant produces abundant inflorescences at the ends of the stem branches, each a cluster of bright yellow flowers. Each flower has usually four petals and six whiskery protruding stamens with curling tips holding the anthers. At the middle is a long, protruding style which holds the developing fruit at its tip. The fruit is an inflated capsule about 4 centimeters long and usually oval in shape. It is smooth and green when new, aging to light brown. A typical inflorescence bears a number of unopened flower buds at its tip, open flowers proximal to the buds, and maturing fruits which have shed their flowers below these.