Cleome gynandra

Why are the seeds of this species difficult? The seeds may have physiological dormancy, which would need to be overcome before they will germinate, by mimicking the seasonal patterns of the species' native habitat.

Cleome gynandra (Image: W. Stuppy and R. Kesseler, RBG Kew)

Seed Storage

This species has Orthodox seeds - dry to 15-20% eRH and store at -20ºC, or as cool as possible.

Germination Requirements

The seeds of this species may be Physiologically Dormant.

Assist embryo growth by excising the tissue at both the radicle tip and the cotyledon end of the seed, before sowing on agar, germination paper or sand. Germinate using an alternating temperature regime of 35/20ºC (with an 8/16hrs photoperiod). Try adding 250mg/l gibberellic acid to the medium to promote germination.

If germination is low, this type of seed dormancy can be overcome by mimicking the seasonal patterns of the species' native habitat. Use a moist pre-chill or pre-heat treatment (depending on local climatic conditions) or a dry after-ripening treatment, before germinating the seeds on agar, germination paper or sand at their optimum temperature.

Seed Morphology

See more images of this species at USDA's Plants Database and the Digital Atlas of Economic Plants.

Taxonomy

Family: CAPPARACEAE

Accepted name: Cleome gynandra L.

Synonyms: Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq., Pedicellaria gynandra (L.) Chiov., Cleome heterotricha Burch., Gynandropsis heterotricha (Burch.) DC., Cleome pentaphylla L., Gynandropsis pentaphylla (L.) DC., Pedicellaria pentaphylla (L.) Schrank, Cleome triphylla L., Gynandropsis triphylla (L.) DC., Cleome candelabrum Sims, Cleome acuta Schumach. & Thonn., Cleome denticulata (DC.) Schult.f., Gynandropsis denticulata DC., Cleome eckloniana Schrad.

Common name: spiderwisp, African cabbage, cat's whiskers

References and Links

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (1994). Genebank Standards. FAO/IPGRI, Rome, Italy.

AFPD (African Flowering Plants Database) - Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Switzerland, and South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, RSA: Cleome gynandra.
PROTAbase (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) - Wageningen, Netherlands: Cleome gynandra.
SID (Seed Information Database) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK: Cleome gynandra.
Tropicos - Missouri Botanical Garden, USA: Cleome gynandra.