Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Cleome serrulata

Cleome serrulata

9.9
A plant from western North America with three-part leaves and pink or white spider-shaped flowers
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Cleome serrulata
  • The pink flowers of Cleome serrulata attract bees and butterflies.

Examples

  • The garden's wildflower section included a cluster of Cleome serrulata in bloom.

  • I planted a Cleome serrulata in my garden.

  • Researchers documented pollinator visits to Cleome serrulata throughout the summer.

  • Have you seen the Cleome serrulata blooming this spring?

  • The vibrant pink flowers of Cleome serrulata are a beautiful addition to any garden.

  • In the summer, Cleome serrulata attracts numerous pollinators with its unique spider-shaped blossoms.

  • Many gardeners choose to plant Cleome serrulata for its striking appearance and ability to thrive in sunny locations.

Synonyms

Rocky Mountain bee plant
vsCleome serrulata
  • US
7.5

A garden plant with pink or white flowers that attract bees

has identical meaning but uses a different common name
stinking clover
vsCleome serrulata
  • US
8.6

A plant with leaves in groups of three and small white or pink flowers that smells unpleasant

has the same description but is named differently

How Showy

peony
3 3.7
rose
469 1.0
Cleome serrulata
  • Specialized
9.9
wildflower
33 2.2
grass
521 1.0

Surface Forms

Cleome serrulata singular
Cleome serrulatas plural

Morphology

Cleome + serrulata

This is a scientific Latin binomial (genus + species) rather than a compositional English phrase, and the second element 'serrulata' has no common English meaning given here. Even knowing 'Cleome' as a genus does not let a B1 learner infer the species-specific description (leaf shape, flower colour, etc.), so the overall meaning is not derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Cleome serrulata may come from two old words that describe how the plant looks: Cleome for the spider-like flowers with long thin petals, and serrulata from a word meaning 'small saw' that describes the tiny teeth on the leaves. So the name helps you picture the plant's spider-like flowers and toothed leaves.