Single-leaf spider-flower (Cleome monophylla)

Cleome monophylla is a small, sticky, strong-smelling weed of dry fields and wasteland in peninsular India and Africa. Unlike most of its cousins it has simple, undivided leaves, which is what monophylla, “one-leaf”, means. It has pink to mauve flowers and long, thin pods, and it is a weed rather than a vegetable.

Botanical name: Cleome monophylla L.
Family: Cleomaceae
Tamil: Oruilai naikadugu
Hindi: Bagra ekpatta
Parts used: None as food
Habit: Simple-leaf Cleome; spider-plant is Chlorophytum
Last updated: 2026-10-25

How to recognise Single-leaf spider-flower

It is an upright annual, usually knee-high, covered in short glandular hairs that make it feel sticky and smell rank when touched.

The leaves are single and narrow, on short stalks. Most Cleome species, such as Cleome gynandra and Cleome viscosa, have leaves divided into three to five leaflets like a hand.

Flowers are small, pink to purple, with four petals and long, spidery stamens, growing one by one from the upper leaf joints.

The fruit is a long, slender, upward-curving pod, also glandular, that splits to release small dark seeds.

Traditional use of Single-leaf spider-flower

Village knowledge

Villagers recognise it as one of several naikadugu-type weeds of dry ground. The leafy greens eaten as thaila keerai come from Cleome gynandra, not from this species.

Tamil Nadu village practice

Modern notes on Single-leaf spider-flower

Phytochemical studies of Cleome species describe glucosinolates and other sharp-tasting compounds, related to those in mustard. Cleome is a close cousin of the cabbage family.

There are no established food or medical uses for this species in India.

Single-leaf spider-flower safety

Do not eat it. If you want the leafy green, make sure it is Cleome gynandra, cooked as local recipes describe.

Ecology and sourcing

It grows on sandy and gravelly soils, roadsides and fallow fields in dry parts of India and across tropical Africa.

It flowers after the rains, and its seeds survive long dry spells in the soil.

Related plants

Questions about Single-leaf spider-flower

Is Single-leaf spider-flower thaila keerai?

No. Thaila keerai is Cleome gynandra, which has hand-shaped leaves.

Is Single-leaf spider-flower a spider plant?

No. The houseplant called spider plant is Chlorophytum comosum.

Why is Single-leaf spider-flower sticky?

It is covered in glandular hairs.

Sources

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.