The African Spider Plant (Cleome gynandra), also known as Spider Flower, Cat's Whiskers, or Sagaa in Swahili, is a fast-growing annual leaf vegetable in the family Cleomaceae, widely cultivated and gathered across sub-Saharan Africa for its nutritious, strongly flavored leaves. The plant gets its common name from its long, spidery stamens that extend far beyond the petals, giving the flowers an otherworldly, spider-like appearance.
• One of the most important traditional leaf vegetables in East and Southern Africa
• The leaves have a distinctive, slightly bitter, pungent flavor appreciated in many African cuisines
• Shows significant nutritional potential as a drought-tolerant, nutrient-rich vegetable for food security
• Currently undergoing domestication and improvement programs by African agricultural researchers
• Sometimes confused with ornamental spider flower (Cleome hassleriana) but is a distinct, edible species
• Pantropical distribution, occurring wild and cultivated across sub-Saharan Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Central America
• Likely originated in Africa and spread to Asia through ancient trade and migration
• Found at elevations from sea level to approximately 2,000 meters
• Grows as a weed in cultivated fields and disturbed areas, as well as being deliberately planted
• Has been gathered as a wild vegetable for millennia before recent domestication efforts
• First described by Linnaeus in 1759
• An important component of traditional homegardens throughout East Africa
Stems:
• Erect, green to greenish-purple, covered with sticky glandular hairs
• Often branching from the base
Leaves:
• Palmate, composed of 5 to 7 leaflets, each 3 to 8 cm long
• Leaflets lanceolate to obovate, entire to slightly toothed margins
• Light green, slightly hairy with a strong odor when crushed
• Petioles 2 to 6 cm long
Flowers:
• Showy, white to pinkish, 2 to 3 cm in diameter
• Four petals, six very long, protruding stamens (the "spider legs") that extend 3 to 5 cm beyond the petals
• Born in terminal racemes that elongate as flowers open sequentially
• Open in late afternoon or evening
Fruit:
• Slender, cylindrical capsule (silique), 4 to 10 cm long and 3 to 5 mm wide
• Erect or spreading, on a long stalk (gynophore) 2 to 5 cm long
• Contains numerous small, dark brown, kidney-shaped seeds
• Per 100 g fresh leaves: approximately 40 to 55 kcal
• High in protein for a leaf vegetable (4 to 5 g per 100 g)
• Rich in vitamins A, C, and E
• Good source of iron (5 to 8 mg per 100 g), calcium, and magnesium
• Contains significant amounts of zinc and phosphorus
• Provides dietary fiber and beneficial phytochemicals
• Contains moderate levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
• Nutritional profile often surpasses that of commonly cultivated exotic vegetables
• Sow seeds broadcast or in rows, mixed with fine sand for even distribution
• Seeds are very small — do not cover deeply; press into soil surface or barely cover
• Germination in 5 to 10 days
• Thin seedlings to 10 to 15 cm apart
• Prefers well-drained soils; tolerant of poor fertility
• Grows best in full sun but tolerates partial shade
• Drought-tolerant once established
• First leaf harvest 30 to 45 days after sowing
• Multiple harvests by cutting stems 10 to 15 cm above ground
• Self-seeds readily, often appearing as a volunteer in subsequent seasons
• Leaves are boiled and added to soups and stews across East, Southern, and West Africa
• In Kenya and Tanzania, leaves are cooked with milk or groundnuts
• Used as a flavoring agent due to their distinctive, slightly bitter taste
• Often mixed with other leafy vegetables to balance flavors
• Leaves can be sun-dried for storage and later reconstituted
• In India, leaves are cooked in curries and lentil dishes
• Seeds are pressed for edible oil in some regions
• Young shoots and flower buds are also eaten
Anecdote
Despite its nutritional value, African spider plant is still considered a "poor man's vegetable" in many regions — but African agricultural researchers are now calling it the next superfood
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