Polanisia
(from poly, many, and anisos, unequal; in allusion to the numerous and unequal stamens). ORD. Capparideae. A genus (now merged into Cleome) comprising about fourteen species of pretty, hardy, annual herbs, often glandular and strong-smelling, mostly tropical and sub-tropical, one being an inhabitant of all the warmer regions of the globe. Sepals lanceolate, free or connate at base, deciduous: petals sessile or unguiculate, entire, equal or unequal, imbricated. Leaves simple or three to nine-foliolate; upper ones bract-like. Seeds should be sown in a hotbed frame, and turned out into a sheltered position in the open border, about the middle of May. P. Chelidonii (Chelidonium). fl. rose; stamens twenty-four to thirty-two. June. l. seven to nine-foliolate; leaflets obovate-cuneate. h. 1 1/2ft. East Indies, 1792. Plant hispid-pilose.
P. dodecandra (twelve-anthered). fl. white; stamens eight to twelve. June. l. trifoliolate; leaflets glabrous, elliptic-lanceolate, slightly serrulate. h. 1 1/2ft. East Indies, 1795. Plant scabrous-puberulous. P. graveolens (strong-smelling). fl. small; calyx and filaments purplish; petals yellowish-white; stamens eight to twelve. June to August. l. with three oblong leaflets. h. 1 1/2ft. North America. Plant glandular-pilose.
