152 CLEOME PUNGENS. PRICKLY CLEOME, OR SPIDERFLOWER. 



but they are continually extending their boundaries. Our 

 Cleome is believed to have crossed over to Florida from the 

 West India Islands, and it is probable that it has been intro- 

 duced into the State named only within recent times, as it 

 is not mentioned in Torrey and Gray's " Flora of North 

 America," which was published in 1840. Prof. Wood gives, in a 

 general way, " the South " as its location, while Chapman places 

 it in " Florida and westward." Mr. George D. Butler, in a note 

 to the " Botanical Bulletin " (now the " Botanical Gazette "), 

 reports it as having already crossed the Mississippi to Arkansas, 

 and there is no doubt but future generations will find it com- 

 pletely across the continent. According to Mr. Martindalc, it 

 occasionally appears along the shores of the Delaware, being, 

 no doubt, brought there in the ballast of vessels. 



The name of the genus, Cleome, is said to be derived from the 

 Greek verb kleio, to shut, in allusion to the fact that the style 

 and the filaments, which lengthen faster than the petals, burst 

 through the latter while they are still closed, and while the 

 stigma and the anthers are still enfolded by them. Don says 

 that the name " was first used by Theodosius," and from him 

 adopted by Linnaeus. A species is often found described as 

 C. spinosa, but this is now thought to be identical with C. pun- 

 gens, which has the right of priority, as far as the name is 

 concerned. Our species has no English name, but a transla- 

 tion of its botanical appellation, " Prickly Cleome " (pronounce 

 clay-om-ay), will, no doubt, be acceptable, unless, indeed, " Spider- 

 flower," which we have heard suggested, should be adopted in 

 preference. We cannot, however, endorse this name, as it is so 

 like Spiderwort, which has already been appropriated by Trades- 

 can tia. 



From a utilitarian point of view, the Prickly Cleome is use- 

 less, but it is to be hoped that its beauty will be considered a 

 sufficient reason for its existence. 



