Cleome hassleriana Chodat

Erect bushy annual herb. Stems stout, ribbed, pubescent, 0.5–2 m tall. Petioles pubescent, sometimes sparsely spiny, 3–10–(15) cm long, with a pair of short stipular spines at base. Lamina digitate-compound; leaflets 5–7, lanceolate, pubescent especially on margins and veins with short, sometimes glandular, hairs, sometimes sparsely spiny on midrib below. Infl. a terminal raceme. Bracts ovate, acute, 1–2 cm long, the lower stalked, the upper sessile, all with a pair of stipular spines at base. Pedicels 2–3–(5) cm long, with glandular hairs. Sepals linear, free, persistent, with glandular hairs. Petals 4; claw 7–10 mm long; limb elliptic, pink, c. 10 mm long. Stamens 6, not exserted in bud, on short androgynophore; filaments 3–4 cm long; anthers curved, c. 1 cm long. Gynophore 3 cm long, elongating to 7 cm at fruiting; ovary c. 7 mm long; stigma sessile. Capsule glabrous, 4–7 × 0.5 cm.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Feb.–Apr.–(May)