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Cressler, Alan

Peritoma lutea

Peritoma lutea (Hooker) Rafinesque

Yellow Bee-plant, Yellow Spiderflower

Capparaceae (Caper Family)

Synonym(s): Cleome lutea

USDA Symbol: PELU5

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

"Annuals, (15-)25-30 cm. Stems sparsely branched distally; glabrous or glabrate. Leaves: petiole 1.5-4.5 cm; leaflets 5 (proximal ones sometimes early deciduous), blade linear to elliptic, 1.5-4(-6) � 0.4-1.3 cm, margins serrate, apex long-acuminate, surfaces glabrous. Racemes 1-3 cm (6-40 cm in fruit); bracts unifoliate, spatulate, 2-15 mm. Pedicels 7-15 mm. Flowers: sepals persistent, connate ca. 1/2 of length, yellow, lanceolate, 1.6-2.6 � 0.8-1.2 mm, margins denticulate, glabrous; petals light yellow, oblong to ovate, 5-8 � 2-4 mm; stamens yellow, 10-15 mm; anthers 1.9-2.6 mm; gynophore 5-17 mm in fruit; ovary 3-6 mm; style 0.5-0.8 mm. Capsules not inflated, 15-40 � 2-5 mm, striate. Seeds 10-20, gray to black, triangular (sharply angled), 3-4 � 2.5-3 mm, rugose. 2n = 34." (Webref: 3).

Formerly classified as Cleome lutea.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Palmate
Leaf Shape: Elliptic , Linear
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Leaf Margin: Serrate
Leaf Apex: Acuminate
Inflorescence: Axillary , Raceme , Terminal
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: To about 12 inches in height.
Leaf: "Leaves: petiole 1.5-4.5 cm; leaflets 5, (proximal ones sometimes early deciduous), blade linear to elliptic, 1.5-4(-6) x 0.4-1.3 cm, margins serrate , apex long-acuminate, surfaces glabrous." (Webref: 3)
Flower: "Racemes 1-3 cm (6-40 cm in fruit); bracts unifoliate, spatulate, 2-15 mm. Pedicels 7-15 mm. Flowers: sepals persistent, connate ca. 1/2 of length, yellow, lanceolate, 1.6-2.6 x 0.8-1.2 mm, margins denticulate, glabrous; petals light yellow, oblong to ovate, 5-8 x 2-4 mm; stamens yellow, 10-15 mm; anthers 1.9-2.6 mm; gynophore 5-17 mm in fruit; ovary 3-6 mm; style 0.5-0.8 mm." (Webref: 3)
Fruit: "Capsules not inflated, 15-40 x 2-5 mm, striate. Seeds 10-20, gray to black, triangular (sharply angled), 3-4 x 2.5-3 mm, rugose." (Webref: 3)

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NE , NM , NV , OR , UT , WA , WY
Native Distribution: Arizona. "California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming; Mexico (Baja California)." (Webref: 3).
Native Habitat: "Dry sandy flats, desert scrub, roadsides; (100-)600-2400 m." (Webref: 3).

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Drought Tolerance: High
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: "Dry sandy flats, desert scrub, roadsides." (Webref: 3).

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Deer Resistant: High

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds

Web Reference

Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Peritoma lutea in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Peritoma lutea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Peritoma lutea

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-08-01
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

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