Tarenaya is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cleomaceae, within the order Brassicales, established by the botanist Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1838. The family Cleomaceae was historically placed within Capparaceae, but molecular studies demonstrated that its genera are more closely related to the mustard family (Brassicaceae), prompting its recognition as a distinct family.
Members of Tarenaya are herbaceous annual or perennial plants, and the genus belongs to a broader assemblage commonly known as spider flowers or bee plants — names that refer to the characteristic long, protruding stamens and the strong attractiveness of the flowers to pollinators. The family as a whole has a subcosmopolitan distribution across tropical and warm temperate regions of the world.
The most widely recognised species is Tarenaya hassleriana (Chodat) Iltis, a popular ornamental plant cultivated for its showy clusters of purple, pink, or white flowers. Other members of the genus include Tarenaya spinosa and Tarenaya aculeata. The genus is sometimes treated as a synonym of the larger genus Cleome L. depending on the taxonomic authority followed; GBIF accepts Tarenaya as a valid genus with approximately 53 species.
Distribution
Tarenaya species occur across tropical and warm temperate regions worldwide. The family Cleomaceae as a whole has a subcosmopolitan distribution, and cultivated species such as T. hassleriana have naturalised widely beyond their South American origin.
Taxonomy Notes
Tarenaya Raf. was established by Rafinesque in 1838 (Sylva Tellur. 111). Its placement has been debated: some authorities synonymise it under Cleome L. sensu lato, while GBIF accepts it as a distinct genus within Cleomaceae. The family itself was formerly included in Capparaceae until DNA studies confirmed closer affinity with Brassicaceae.
Cultivation
Tarenaya hassleriana (spider flower) is a widely grown garden annual valued for tall, airy flower heads in shades of purple, pink, and white that attract bees and other pollinators throughout summer.
