Family: Commelinaceae
Asiatic dayflower, common dayflower
[Commelina communis var. communis L., more...]
Kitty Kohout
Christopher Noll
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Commelina: after the two Dutch botanists Johan (1629-1692) and his nephew Caspar (1667-1731) Commelin, known to Linnaeus and Charles Plumier, a French Franciscan monk, botanist and traveler who apparently named this flower.
Plants: erect (then drooping), annual, 4"-14" tall forb; lax stems rooting from the lower nodes
Leaves: mostly hairless sheath open at the base
Flowers: blue, 3-parted, 1" wide, much smaller lower petal nearly white; folded bracts, below the flower, completely separated all the way to the base; blooms July-Sept.
Habitat: shade, semi-shade; moist; gardens, roadsides, disturbed areas
Conservation Status: Introduced - naturalized
Plants: erect (then drooping), annual, 4"-14" tall forb; lax stems rooting from the lower nodes
Leaves: mostly hairless sheath open at the base
Flowers: blue, 3-parted, 1" wide, much smaller lower petal nearly white; folded bracts, below the flower, completely separated all the way to the base; blooms July-Sept.
Habitat: shade, semi-shade; moist; gardens, roadsides, disturbed areas
Conservation Status: Introduced - naturalized
Flora of North America: Flora of North America Floristic Rating: Wetland Indicator = FAC Invasive And Exotic Species of North America: Descriptions, management issues, warnings, photos, etc. USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos David G. Smith's "Delaware Wilflowers": Beautiful photographs; descriptions Dan Tenaglia's The Missouri Flora: Fabulous photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leave arrangement key. Illinois Wildflowers: Wonderful photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leaf arrangement key Southwest School of Botanical Medicine: Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora - 2nd Edition (1913) "An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada"
Christopher Noll
Christopher Noll
Janice Stiefel
Merel R. Black
Botanical Illustration
