Spreading spiderflower

Cleome diffusa Banks ex de Candolle in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 241. 1824; C. aculeata Linnaeus var. diffusa (Banks ex de Candolle) Kuntze

Plants 10-30(-90) cm. Stems delicately branched; glandular-papillose. Leaves: stipular spines 0.5 mm; petiole 4-15 cm; leaflets 3 proximally, 1 distally, blade obovate, 1-2.5 × 0.5-1.2 cm, margins serrate, apex acute to obtuse or acuminate, surfaces glabrous or sparsely glandular-pubescent abaxially, glabrate adaxially. Racemes 5-10 cm (8-12 cm in fruit); bracts unifoliate, elliptic, 4-15 mm. Pedicels 4-6 mm. Flowers: sepals deciduous, brownish green, ovate, 1-2.5(-3) × 1-2 mm, margins serrulate, glabrous; petals yellow or creamy white, 5-10 × 1.5-3 mm; stamens (staggered) ,yellow, 5-9 mm; anthers 0.3-0.5 mm; gynophore 2-4 mm in fruit; ovary 3 mm; style 0.1-0.2 mm. Capsules 15-20 × 3-6 mm, glabrous. Seeds 10-13, dull reddish brown to black, oblong or comma-shaped (compressed), 2-3 × 2 mm, tuberculate, (aril white).

Flowering summer. Disturbed areas; 0-10 m; introduced; Ala.; South America.

The only record of Hemiscola diffusa from the flora area is a collection from ballast in Mobile in 1893 (Mohr s.n., NY, US).