Mojave cleomella
Cleomella obtusifolia Torr. & Frém.
Cleomella obtusifolia, known as Mojave cleomella, is a flowering plant in the Cleomaceae family. It is an annual herb that grows in desert scrub habitats, particularly in alkaline soils. The plant features a rough, hairy stem that becomes drooping with age, forming a bushy mat. It has trifoliate leaves with fleshy oval leaflets. Flowers appear in racemes or singly in leaf axils, with four hairy green sepals, four yellow petals, and long yellow stamens. The fruit is a hairy, valved capsule.
Description
Cleomella obtusifolia is native to California, Nevada, and New Mexico. It was first described in 1845 by Torr. & Frém. The plant is also known by the common names Mojave stinkweed and bluntleaf stinkweed. It produces yellow flowers with prominent stamens that extend up to 1.5 cm. The fruit develops at the end of the flower's receptacle and is a few millimeters long. The species is adapted to arid environments and is part of the desert scrub flora.
Other common names
Mojave cleomella
Distribution
California · Nevada · New Mexico
Synonyms
Cleomella fremontiiCleomella obtusifolia var. floriferaCleomella obtusifolia var. jonesiiCleomella obtusifolia var. pubescensCleomella taurocranosCleomella pubescens