CLEOME, in botany, a genus of the filiquosa order, belonging to the tetradymania class of plants. There are 15 species; all of them, except two, natives of warm climates. They are herbaceous plants rising from one to two feet high; and are adorned with flowers of various colours, as red, yellow, flesh colour, &c. They are propagated by seeds, and require no other care than what is common to other exotics which are natives of warm countries.