Cleome isomeris (Bladderpod)

Cleome isomeris Greene

Isomeris arborea Nutt.

Isomeris arborea Nutt. var. angustata Parish

Isomeris arborea Nutt. var. globosa Coville

Isomeris arborea Nutt. var. insularis Jeps.

Bladderpod, Arizona bladderpod

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Brassicales	Mustard, cabbage, caper, papaya, nasturtiums, many others; most produce mustard oil
Family	Cleomaceae	Caper family
Genus	Cleome	An ancient name of some mustard-like plant
Species	isomeris	From the Greek isos, “equal,” and meris, “a part,” describing the equally divided pod

About plant names...

Bladderpod spiderflowers—what a great name!—are North American natives.

Identification: This shrub has a scent variously described as ”unusual,” “ill-scented,” or “pungent smelling.” It is remarkably rounded or oval in shape, up to 8' (2.4 m) around, evergreen, with inconspicuous thin gray-green leaves ½-1¾" (1.5-4.5 cm) long, usually in groups of three. Attractive bright yellow flowers with long stamens appear everywhere on the shrub. The fruits (the “bladderpods”) are variably shaped, resembling inflated paper lanterns. They are 1-1½" (3-4 cm) long, approximately oval, and smooth.

Online References:

Cleome isomeris on Wildflowers in Santa Barbara

Cleome isomeris at Illinois Wildflowers

Cleome isomeris on the USDA Plants Database

Cleome isomeris at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Cleome isomeris on cals.arizona.edu

Cleome isomeris on Desert-tropicals.com

Cleome isomeris from the Jepson Manual

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 20 cm)

2/17/2007 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California ID is uncertain

2/26/2010 · Torrey Pines State Park, La Jolla, California
≈ 3 × 4½" (7.9 × 11 cm)

Cleome isomeris description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)

2/26/2010 · Torrey Pines State Park, La Jolla, California
≈ 2 × 3" (5.6 × 7.5 cm)

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 20 cm)

Range:

About this map...