Cleome lutea

Family: Capparaceae – Caper Family

Cleome lutea (Yellow beeplant) is the only species from this family represented at Arches National Park.

Annual herbs; stems 11.8” to 4.9' (3 to 15 dm) tall

Leaves: alternate; palmately compound; entire; 3 to 7 leaflets; leaflets 0.32” to 0.4” (0.8 to 5 cm) long, 0.08” to 0.4” (2 to 10 mm) wide

Flowers: 4 yellow petals; 4 sepals; stamens commonly 6; 1 pistil; stamens extend above the top of the flower; petals 0.2” to 0.32” (5 to 8 mm)

Pollinators: other Cleome species are pollinated by bees

Fruits: capsule (mustard-like pod)

Blooms in Arches National Park: April, May, June, July, August, September, October

Habitat in Arches National Park: desert shrub and pinyon-juniper communities

Location seen: Delicate Arch Viewpoint, along Hwy. 191 near mouth of Courthouse Wash , west park boundary

Other: The genus name, "Cleome", is an ancient name for a mustard-like plant and the species name, "lutea", means "yellow".

This family closely resembles mustards (Brassicaceae), but this family has stamens that are all of one length and mustards do not.