# Bladderpod (*Cleomella arborea*) Bladderpod is a unique plant with bright yellow flowers that bloom in the spring. Its funny name comes from the round, balloon-like pods that grow on its stems! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 11 - **Habitat:** Desert ![Bladderpod](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bladderpod_%28Cleome_isomeris%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alan Vernon, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bladderpod_%28Cleome_isomeris%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Bladderpod is a tall, woody shrub recognized by its clusters of bright yellow, four-petaled flowers. Its most distinctive feature is the inflated, globe-shaped seed pods, which start green and ripen to a papery tan. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Brassicales - **Family:** Cleomaceae - **Genus:** Cleomella ## Interesting facts - Despite its desert home, the Bladderpod is a distant cousin to broccoli and mustard! - Its unique 'bladder' pods give this plant its funny, descriptive common name! - Many Bladderpods have a distinct, somewhat spicy or pungent aroma, especially when you brush past them! - Some Bladderpod species are so tall, they can tower over a grown-up! ## Special abilities - **Windy Wanderer:** Bladderpod has hollow, inflated seed pods that catch the wind, helping its seeds travel far from the parent plant. - **Desert Drinker:** Bladderpod can thrive in dry, arid environments thanks to its deep root system that helps it find scarce water. - **Stinky Shield:** Bladderpod produces strong-smelling chemicals that make its leaves taste bad, protecting it from munching animals. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-300 cm - **Spread:** 50-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen for its hive - **Pollinates:** [Painted Lady](https://www.snappit.app/explore/painted-lady) (*Vanessa cardui*) — visits bright flowers for sweet nectar - **Eaten by:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — might eat the Bladderpod's nutritious seeds ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch wild plants, as some can be prickly or not safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bladderpod? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Bladderpod? 100-300 cm ### How wide does Bladderpod spread? 50-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on Bladderpod? 1-2 cm ### When does Bladderpod bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is Bladderpod edible? No ### Is Bladderpod toxic? None ### What is Bladderpod's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Arroyo Conejo Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arroyo-conejo-open-space) — California, US · Park - [Cabrillo National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrillo-national-monument) — California, US · National Park - [Conejo Valley Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conejo-valley-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Crystal Cove Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-cove-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Point Dume State Beach](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-dume-state-beach) — California, US · State Park - [SeaWorld San Diego](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seaworld-san-diego) — California, US · Aquarium [View all places to see Bladderpod](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bladderpod) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Bladderpod: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bladderpod)