Contains 9 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Classification
Citation
COMMELINA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 40. 1753.
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TYPE: Commelina communis Linnaeus Lectotypified by Britton & A. Brown, Ill. Fl. N. U.S., ed. 2. 1: 457. 1913.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commelina benghalensis | JIO; BENGHAL DAYFLOWER | Not Native FACU (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | |
| Commelina caroliniana | CAROLINA DAYFLOWER | Not Native FAC (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | |
| Commelina communis | ASIATIC DAYFLOWER | Not Native FAC (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | |
| Commelina diffusa var. diffusa | COMMON DAYFLOWER | Not Native FACW (NWPL) T (WAP) FACW (DEP) | |
| Commelina diffusa var. gigas | CLIMBING DAYFLOWER | Not Native FACW (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | |
| Commelina erecta | WHITEMOUTH DAYFLOWER | Native FACU (NWPL) | |
| Commelina forskaolii | RAT'S EAR | Not Native FACW (DEP) | |
| Commelina gambiae | GAMBIAN DAYFLOWER | Not Native FACW (DEP) | |
| Commelina virginica | VIRGINIA DAYFLOWER | Native FACW (NWPL) FACW (DEP) |
[Family identification key]
1. Margins of spathe free to the base
2
1. Margins of spathe clearly united in the basal portion
5
2. Spathes sometimes with whitish or pale green patches with contrasting, dark green veins; lower petal white or paler than others; capsule 2-locular; seeds rugose pitted-reticulate
2. Spathes without contrasting veins; all petals bluish and concolorous with others; capsule 3-locular; seeds reticulate or smooth to faintly alveolate
3
3. Spathes not at all to slightly falcate; distal cyme usually vestigial (rarely well developed, 1-flowered); seeds smooth to faintly alveolate
3. Spathes usually distinctly falcate; distal cyme in larger spathes usually well developed, 1-several-flowered; seeds reticulate
4
4. Leaf blades 1.5-5(-8) × 0.5-1(-2.2) cm; medial anther connective with broad transverse violet band; capsules 5-seeded (occasionally less, by abortion)
4. Leaf blades 6-14 × 1-3.3 cm; medial anther connective without dark band; capsules typically 1-2-seeded
5. Spathe pilose with septate hairs
6
5. Spathe glabrate, scabrid-pubescent, pubescent, puberulent, or pilose
8
6. Leaf sheaths with reddish hairs at the apex; leaf blades ovate to lanceolate-elliptic
6. Leaf sheaths lacking reddish hairs; leaf blades linear to oblong-elliptic
7
7. Spathe not falcate or only slightly, the lower margin nearly straight, acute at the tip; petals blue; seeds smooth
7. Spathe falcate, the lower margin curved to the acuminate tip; petals peach-colored to very pale orangeish; seeds reticulate
8. Roots stout, ca. 2 mm thick; leaf sheaths with auricles at summit; lower petal white, less than ½ the size of upper petals; locules all 1-seeded
8. Roots thin, ca. 1 mm thick; leaf sheaths not auriculate;lower petal blue to lilac or lavender, not or only slightly smaller than upper petals; some locules usually 2-seeded
9
9. Main stems ascending to decumbent, repent or scrambling; leaf sheaths often red-pilose; leaf blades 1-11 cm long; spathes 0.5--2 cm long, pubescent; subterranean, cleistogamous flowers sometimes present
9. Main stems erect to ascending; leaf sheaths with red hairs at summit; leaf blades 6--20 cm; spathes 1.5--3.5 cm long, glabrate; subterranean, cleistogamous flowers absent