cleome

(redirected from cleomes)
Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia.

Related to cleomes: spider flower

cle·o·me

(klē-ō′mē)

Any of various often strong-smelling plants of the genus Cleome, native chiefly to warm regions and including several ornamentals. Also called spider flower.

[New Latin Cleome, genus name, coined by Carolus Linnaeus (perhaps with reference to the resemblance of the racemes and siliques of cleomes to those of mustards) from Late Latin cleoma, hedge mustard (Sisymbrium officinale) or a related species, probably of Greek origin and perhaps ultimately (with reference to the traditional use of hedge mustard by singers and orators as a remedy for sore throat) from Greek kleos, fame, glory, or kleiein, to tell of, make famous; see Clio.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

cleome

(klɪˈəʊmɪ)

(Plants) any herbaceous or shrubby plant of the mostly tropical capparidaceous genus Cleome, esp C. spinosa, cultivated for their clusters of white or purplish flowers with long stamens

[C19: New Latin, of obscure origin]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	cleome - any of various often strong-smelling plants of the genus Cleome having showy spider-shaped flowers spiderflower genus Cleome, Cleome - tropical and subtropical annual or perennial herbs or low shrubs Cleome hassleriana, spider flower, spider plant - native to South America but naturalized in warm parts of United States; grown for its long-lasting spider-shaped white to pink-purple flowers Cleome serrulata, Rocky Mountain bee plant, stinking clover - plant of western North America having trifoliate leaves and white or pink spider-shaped flowers; sometimes used as an ornamental herb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests
	2.	Cleome - tropical and subtropical annual or perennial herbs or low shrubs genus Cleome dilleniid dicot genus - genus of more or less advanced dicotyledonous trees and shrubs and herbs caper family, Capparidaceae, family Capparidaceae - a dilleniid dicot family of the order Rhoeadales that includes: genera Capparis, Cleome, Crateva, and Polanisia cleome, spiderflower - any of various often strong-smelling plants of the genus Cleome having showy spider-shaped flowers

References in periodicals archive ?

A great combination is Verbena bonariensis, cosmos and cleomes. To cover bare soil, use ground-huggers such as alchemilla, hardy geraniums, bugle, heuchera and epimedium to create a woven tapestry of flowers and foliage.

Q & A; Gardening

Having said that, the list of flowers that support hummers include salvias, petunias, nasturtiums, flowering tobacco (Nicotiana), cleomes, impatiens, bee balms, foxgloves, columbines, lupines, honeysuckle shrubs and vines, plus dozens of other perennials and annuals.

Making hummers welcome

"Cleomes (Cleome hasslerana) are easy-growing, carefree flowers that can hold up to late summer heat spells and droughts," she says.