Native Plants

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:

Peritoma platycarpa

Peritoma platycarpa (Torrey) H. H. Iltis

Golden Bee-plant, Golden Spiderflower

Capparaceae (Caper Family)

Synonym(s): Cleome platycarpa

USDA Symbol: PEPL6

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

"Annuals, 10-60 cm. Stems densely branched basally; purple-tinged; glandular-pubescent. Leaves: (stipules scalelike, minute, obscured by pubescence); petiole 1.5-4.5 cm; leaflets 3, blade flat, ovate to obovate, 1-3.5 � 0.5-1.3 cm, margins serrulate-denticulate or entire, apex obtuse, surfaces glandular-pubescent. Racemes 1-3.5 cm (5-40 cm in fruit); bracts unifoliate, obovate to spatulate, 3-25 mm. Pedicels 7-17 mm. Flowers: sepals deciduous, distinct, yellow, awl-shaped, (3-)4-5(-6) � 3-7 mm, margins entire, densely glandular-hairy; petals golden yellow, oblong, 6-12 � 0.3-0.4(-0.6) mm; stamens yellow, 10-17 mm; anthers 1.8-2 mm; gynophore 10-18 mm in fruit; ovary (compressed), 3.5-5 mm; style 1-3 mm. Capsules (pendent) not inflated, 12-25 � 8-12 mm, striate, (glandular-pubescent). Seeds 10-20, brownish black, spheroidal, 3-3.2 mm, (glossy) smooth. 2n = 40." (Webref: 3).

"Peritoma platycarpa resembles some species of Cleomella in the absence of a nectary-disc, shape of the replum, and indument." (Webref: 3).

From the Image Gallery

No images of this plant

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Palmate , Trifoliate
Leaf Shape: Obovate , Ovate
Leaf Margin: Denticulate , Entire , Serrulate
Inflorescence: Axillary , Raceme , Terminal
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: To about 2 feet in height.
Leaf: "Leaves: (stipules scalelike, minute, obscured by pubescence); petiole 1.5-4.5 cm; leaflets 3, blade flat, ovate to obovate, 1-3.5 x 0.5-1.3 cm, margins serrulate-denticulate or entire, apex obtuse, surfaces glandular-pubescent." (Webref: 3)
Flower: "Flowers: sepals deciduous, distinct, yellow, awl-shaped, (3-)4-5(-6) x 3-7 mm, margins entire, densely glandular-hairy; petals golden yellow, oblong, 6-12 x 0.3-0.4(-0.6) mm; stamens yellow, 10-17 mm; anthers 1.8-2 mm; gynophore 10-18 mm in fruit; ovary (compressed), 3.5-5 mm; style 1-3 mm." (Webref: 3)
Fruit: "Capsules (pendent) not inflated, 12-25 x 8-12 mm, striate, (glandular-pubescent). Seeds 10-20, brownish black, spheroidal, 3-3.2 mm, (glossy) smooth. 2n = 40." (Webref: 3)

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: CA , ID , NV , OR
Native Distribution: "California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon." (Webref: 3).
Native Habitat: "Alkaline clay soils, volcanic tuff, dry foothills, among junipers, in sagebrush scrub, fields, railroads; 800-1200 m." (Webref: 3).

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Alkaline (pH>7.2)
Drought Tolerance: High
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: "Alkaline clay soils, volcanic tuff, dry foothills." (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 platycarpa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Peritoma platycarpa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Peritoma platycarpa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-07-28
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

Go back