Cleome rutidosperma is an erect to spreading, annual plant, widely branched from the base, it can grow 25 - 100cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of edible leaves. It is sometimes cultivated for its leaves, and the leaves are sometimes sold in local markets.

Known Hazards

None known

Habitat

Cultivated and disturbed ground, usually in rather damp situations; stream banks in the forest; at elevations from sea level to 1,150 metres.
Plants are often observed growing as epiphytes on cliff faces, stone walls and trees.

Cultivation Status

Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the wet, lowland tropics, growing in areas with a mean annual rainfall within the range 1,700 - 3,000mm.
The plant has become a weed in many areas in the tropics, often spreading freely and becoming invasive.
It spreads by seed, which is dispersed by water, in farm machinery, farm produce and often by ants.

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked. They have a rather bitter taste similar to mustard, and are occasionally eaten as a potherb or added to soups.
Ghee is sometimes added in order to give more flavour.

Medicinal

Cleome rutidosperma has medicinal uses similar to those of Gynandropsis gynandra, with which it is often confused.
The plant is appetizer, laxative.
A decoction is used to treat malaria.
A leaf extract is used to treat convulsions.
The leaf-sap is used in ear-instillations to treat earache, inflammation and deafness.
A leaf extract is made into a lotion that is applied to soothe irritable skin conditions, prickly heat, etc.
There are opposing reports regarding the presence and absence of alkaloid in the plant.

Agroforestry Uses

None Recorded

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -