Cleome viscosa, commonly known as Asian spiderflower or wild mustard, is an annual herb widely distributed across tropical Asia and a recognised entry in Sri Lanka's catalogue of ayurvedic medicinal plants. It grows readily in disturbed soils, roadsides, and cultivated fields throughout the island, and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries alongside better-known plants such as Acacia chundra and Pongamia pinnata.
What does Cleome viscosa look like?
Cleome viscosa is an erect, branching herb that typically grows to between 30 and 90 centimetres in height. The entire plant is covered in fine, sticky glandular hairs — the source of its species name, viscosa, from the Latin for sticky. Its leaves are palmately compound, usually with three to five leaflets, and its flowers are small, yellow, and produced in loose terminal racemes. The fruit is a narrow, elongated capsule containing numerous small, reddish-brown seeds.
The plant belongs to the family Cleomaceae (formerly placed within Capparaceae) and completes its life cycle in a single growing season. It is considered a weed in many agricultural contexts, yet its value in traditional medicine has ensured it retains a respected place in Sri Lankan ethnobotany.
What are the traditional ayurvedic uses of Cleome viscosa?
Within the Sri Lankan and broader South Asian ayurvedic tradition, virtually every part of Cleome viscosa has documented therapeutic applications. The seeds, leaves, and roots each carry distinct properties recognised in classical texts.
- Seeds: Traditionally used for their anthelmintic (worm-expelling) properties and to address digestive complaints. Seed extracts have also been applied topically for skin conditions.
- Leaves: Used as a poultice for wounds, ulcers, and inflammatory skin conditions. Leaf preparations are sometimes employed to relieve headaches and rheumatic pain.
- Roots: Considered febrifugal (fever-reducing) in traditional practice, and root preparations have been used to treat ear complaints and as a general tonic.
- Whole plant: The plant's volatile constituents have attracted research interest for potential antimicrobial and analgesic activity.
In ayurvedic classification, Cleome viscosa is generally considered to have heating properties (ushna virya) and is associated with pacifying vata and kapha doshas. It is known in Sinhala herbal practice under names that reflect its sticky texture and pungent character.
Where does Cleome viscosa grow in Sri Lanka?
Cleome viscosa is one of the more adaptable medicinal plants in Sri Lanka's flora. It is not restricted to a single ecological zone — it colonises open, sunny ground from coastal lowlands up to mid-elevation areas. You are likely to encounter it in the dry and intermediate zones, particularly around the North Central and North Western provinces, where it appears along field margins, abandoned plots, and the edges of scrub forest.
Its tolerance for poor soils and seasonal drought makes it especially prevalent in the drier regions of the island, though it can appear almost anywhere that soil has been recently disturbed. Unlike many medicinal species, it requires no cultivation to remain abundant.
How is Cleome viscosa used in Sri Lankan herbal preparations?
Traditional practitioners prepare Cleome viscosa in several ways depending on the intended therapeutic outcome. Dried seeds may be ground and incorporated into compound formulations, while fresh leaf juice is applied directly to the skin. Decoctions of the roots are taken internally for fever and digestive ailments.
The plant also appears as a supporting ingredient in some classical ayurvedic compound preparations — a tradition shared with other Sri Lankan botanicals catalogued by Lakpura, including Syzygium aromaticum. As with all traditional remedies, preparations of Cleome viscosa should be used under the guidance of a qualified ayurvedic practitioner rather than self-administered.
What does modern research say about Cleome viscosa?
Scientific interest in Cleome viscosa has grown steadily over recent decades. Laboratory studies have examined its seed and leaf extracts for a range of biological activities, with findings suggesting antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties in various experimental models. Phytochemical analyses have identified flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and volatile oils as significant constituents.
It is worth noting that most of this research is preliminary — conducted in laboratory or animal settings — and clinical trials in humans are limited. The plant's traditional uses should therefore be understood in their cultural and historical context, while remaining open to validation through rigorous scientific study.
Is Cleome viscosa the same as wild mustard or spiderflower?
Cleome viscosa carries several common names across different regions and languages. In English it is often called Asian spiderflower, tick weed, or wild mustard — though it is not a true mustard and is unrelated to the Brassica genus. The "spiderflower" name is shared with other Cleome species, which can lead to confusion. In local South Asian usage, regional vernacular names vary considerably by language and district.
When sourcing plant material for medicinal use, it is advisable to confirm botanical identity carefully, as Cleome species can be visually similar to one another and to unrelated herbs.
How does Cleome viscosa fit into Sri Lanka's broader herbal medicine tradition?
Sri Lanka's ayurvedic heritage is exceptionally rich, drawing on thousands of years of accumulated botanical knowledge. Cleome viscosa occupies a modest but genuine place in that tradition — not as a high-profile remedy, but as one of many plants that rural and traditional communities have relied on for everyday healthcare needs.
The island's biodiversity, spanning rainforests such as the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the dry-zone scrublands of the north, has produced an extraordinarily diverse pharmacopoeia. Documenting and preserving knowledge of plants like Cleome viscosa is increasingly important as land-use change and modernisation alter the habitats where these species naturally occur.
