Contains 7 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 | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commelina benghalensis | Tropical Spiderwort, Bengal Dayflower | |||
| Commelina caroliniana | Indian Dayflower | |||
| Commelina communis | Common Dayflower | |||
| Commelina diffusa | Creeping Dayflower | |||
| Commelina erecta var. angustifolia | Sand Dayflower | |||
| Commelina erecta var. erecta | Erect Dayflower | |||
| Commelina virginica | Virginia Dayflower |
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. Leaf sheaths often with red hairs; leaf blades (1)1.5-4(5) cm wide
6
5. Leaf sheaths without red hairs; leaf; leaf blades 0.1-1.5 cm wide (rarely wider in FL material)
6. Main stems ascending to decumbent, repent or scrambling; leaf sheaths often red-pilose; leaf blades 1-11 cm long, 1.5-4(4.5) cm wide, 1.3-1.9 times as long as wide, the apex rounded to obtuse; spathes 0.5--2 cm long, pubescent; subterranean, cleistogamous flowers sometimes present
6. Main stems erect to ascending; leaf sheaths with red hairs at summit; leaf blades 6-20 cm long, (1)1.5-3.5(5) cm wide, 4-6 times as long as wide, the apex acute to attenuate; spathes 1.5-3.5 cm long, glabrate; subterranean, cleistogamous flowers absent
7. Roots stout, ca. 2 mm thick; leaf sheaths with auricles at summit; leaf blades 2.6-31 times as long as wide; spathes with or without patch of septate hairs; lower petal white, less than ½ the size of upper petals; locules all 1-seeded; seeds mostly smooth
7. Roots thin, ca. 1 mm thick; leaf sheaths not auriculate; leaf blades 4-25 times as long as wide; lower petal white or blue to lilac or lavender, not or only slightly smaller than upper petals; spathes with patch of septate hairs; some locules usually 2-seeded; seeds smooth or reticulate
9
8. Leaf blade 4-8 times as long as wide; spathe tip acute; upper petals blue; seeds smooth
8. Leaf blade 7.5-25 times as long as wide; spathe tip acuminate; upper petals peach-colored to very pale orangeish; seeds reticulate
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| No synonyms found. | |||