Polanisia dodecandra
Introduction '''''Polanisia dodecandra''''' is a species of flowering plant in the Cleomaceae family, known by the common name '''redwhisker clammyweed''' or '''clammyweed''', and there are three subspecies of ''Polanisia''. Usually annual, occasionally perennial, Polanisia is native to North America, and is found throughout much of Canada and the United States. It favors full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and barren, sandy or gravelly soils, even highly disturbed areas where there is little other ground vegetation. It looks similar to a close relative, the spider flower (''Cleome'').The scientific name of the genus derives from the fact that the plant has numerous, long stamens of unequal lengths (from Greek ''polys'', "many", and ''anisos'', "unequal"). The name of the species, ''dodecandra'' means "having 12 stamens". The common name clammyweed refers to the sticky, or clammy, residue left on hands after handling the plant. ''Polanisia'' grows from  tall and the vegetation and sap have a noticeable odor described as smelling unpleasant, sulphur-like, "strong and rank". The leaves, about  long, are made up of three  palmate leaflets. The stems are covered in glandular hairs, and numerous flowers are borne in terminal racemes (May–October). Each flower has four white or cream petals about  long, and reddish purple stamens extend well beyond the petals (hence the "red whisker" clammyweed nomenclature). The seedpods are long, slender capsules  long. They contain multiple small reddish brown seeds approx . ''Polanisia'' seedpods project upward (whereas ''Cleome'' pods project out or down).There are several subspecies of 'Polanisia dodecandra'', including:* ''Polanisia dodecandra'' subsp. ''dodecandra'' – redwhisker clammyweed* ''P. dodecandra'' subsp. ''riograndensis'' – Rio Grande clammyweed (only found in Texas)* ''P. dodecandra'' subsp. ''trachysperma'' – sandyseed clammyweed.
Uses The plant is related to the caper. There are culinary and ceremonial uses.
References
External links *** Missouri Plants Photo Profile* Photo gallery