Polanisia dodecandra (Red-whisker Clammyweed)
| Also known as: | |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Polanisia |
| Family: | Cleomaceae (Spider Flower) |
| Life cycle: | annual |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | sun; along shores, sandy soil |
| Bloom season: | July - September |
| Plant height: | 1 to 2 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: FACU MW: UPL NCNE: UPL |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers, subsp. dodecandra]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/polanisia-dodecandra-9.jpg)
A flat cluster 1 to 2 inches across of stalked flowers at the top of branching stems and arising from upper leaf axils. Individual flowers are 3/16 to 3/8 inch long with 4 white notched petals that stand erect, about 10 long wiry red stamens that are at least as long as the petals, and 4 narrowly triangular to egg-shaped sepals that are reddish green.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/red-whisker-clammyweed-100_1845.jpg)
Leaves near the base of the plant are compound in 3's and stalked; on the upper part of the plant they are singles, with little or no stalk. Upper leaves and lower leaflets are elliptic, sometimes widest above the middle, up to 1½ inches long and ½ inch wide, with a blunt or pointed tip; color is dull yellowish green to purplish green. Leaves and stems are both covered with sticky hairs. Stems are unbranched, or branched near the base.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/polanisia-dodecandra.jpg)
Fertilized flowers are replaced with thin yellowish green pods up to 2 inches long that are also covered with sticky hairs. The pods stand erect.
Notes:
There are 2 subspecies of Clammyweed in Minnesota. Subsp. dodecandra, the more common, has flowers with petals up to ¼ inch long and the longest stamens only slightly longer than the petals. Subsp. trachysperma has petals up to 3/8 inch long and the longest stamens may be more than twice as long as the petals. While the fruits and leaves of Clammyweed resemble those of members in the Pea family, they are not related, and otherwise nothing else found in the wild looks quite like it. In Minnesota, the only other native species in the same family as Clammyweed is James' Polanisia (P. jamesii), which is miniature by comparison, and rare in the state.
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More photos
Red-whisker Clammyweed plants
a patch of Red-whisker Clammyweed
flowers, subsp. trachyspermaPhotos by K. Chayka taken at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Anoka County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken near Alexandria, Douglas County.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2014-08-10 23:03:04
I found a few specimens of var. trachysperma in northwest Hennepin County on August 6th, 2014 in a remnant gravel and sand prairie
on: 2014-08-30 16:07:56
Sited at coon rapids dam
on: 2015-09-09 10:08:29
This plant grows wild in our sand box every summer. I also saw it growing along the sandy shore of a lake in Glendalough State Park on Labor Day 2015. Now I finally know what it is! Thank you! Tough to find the ID for this one.
on: 2015-10-28 08:53:02
Found on sandy shoreline of Mississippi at Prairie Island Marina. I think it is worth mentioning that this plant can also be IDed by its strong, unpleasant odor that gets on your hands when handling the plant.
on: 2017-07-22 06:34:26
My first sighting of this was in 2014 on an island in Spring Lake created by dredge fill.
on: 2018-07-27 08:19:54
Road construction going on for over a year. This is what was able to pop through the sand by the side of the road.
on: 2020-05-08 21:08:35
Found in full bloom on field road in very sandy soils in late August.
on: 2020-08-03 22:58:32
Have never seen this plant for the few years and now have seen it along the road in Kunkel WMA (Sherburne) and along Big Stone Lake (Big Stone County). Disturbed and sandy both times.
on: 2020-08-05 12:08:34
Sited so many of them on Aug 2nd this year on the pile of sand that was dumped there last year after dredging the Mississippi River. A neat looking plant!
on: 2021-07-22 10:33:52
I noticed this growing in a wildflower part of my garden a month ago when it was smaller. I decided to leave it to see what it would look like as i noticed small pods and the 3 leaves. I find what i have is called rough seed clammyweed though. small heart shaped flowers on this plant.
on: 2021-09-06 21:42:41
Growing in the sand on the shoreline abutting the Mississippi River.
on: 2023-08-09 12:26:33
very lush stand in parking lot across from viking ship at stadium