Cleomaceae: Spiderflower Family

Bladderpod – Peritoma arborea var. globosa

Blooms:

Oct–July

Plant Height:

0.5–2 m

Flower Size:

Large

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Slopes & grassland, southeastern Monterey County

Notes:

A dense, much-branched shrub.  The flowers have 4 unequally sized petals (8–14 mm), with long, exserted stamens.  The fruits are the most distinctive part of this plant, and fully live up to its common name.  Its fruit is a bladder-like capsule (3–6 cm long), ovoid to spheric in shape.  Some nice examples can be found along the road from King City to Lonoak.