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Commelina caroliniana Walter, Fl. Carol. 68 1788. (syn: Commelina hasskarlii C.B.Clarke);
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Himalaya to India (as per WCSP)
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Commelina caroliniana, sometimes known as the Carolina dayflower, is an herbaceous plant in the dayflower family native to India and Bangladesh. Both the scientific name and the common name are misleading as the plant was described based on specimens found in the southeastern United States before it was known that the plant had been introduced from India. It was most likely introduced to South Carolina in the late 17th century along with rice seed from India. Its flowers emerge from summer to fall and rarely into the winter. Commelina caroliniana is an annual herb with a diffusely spreading growth habit. It will readily root at the nodes when they come into contact with the soil. The stems are decumbent (i.e. lying on the ground with rising tips) to scandent (i.e. climbing). The glabrous (i.e. hairless) leaves have blades that are lanceolate to lanceolate-elliptic or lanceolate-oblong in shape, measuring 2.5 to 10.5 cm in length by 0.7 to 2.4 cm in width. The leaf margins are scabrous (i.e. with rough projections), while the apex is acute to acuminate in outline.[3]
The inflorescences are important for making a proper identification, and especially for distinguishing it from Commelina diffusa. The upper cyme, also called a cincinnus, is typically vestigial and included inside the spathe, though it is can be rarely 1-flowered and exserted. The spathes are solitary and bright green in colour, though becoming paler towards the base. Unlike Commelina communis, it lacks veins with contrasting colour. They are pedunculate (i.e. supported on a stalk), with the peduncles measuring 0.6 to 2.3 cm. They are generally not falcate (i.e. sickle-shaped), though they may be slightly so (cf. Commelina diffusa). They measure 1.2 to 3 cm in length, and rarely up to 3.7 cm long, by 0.5 to 1 cm in width. Their margins are not fused and are usually ciliate (i.e. with a fringe of hairs), while the apex is acuminate in outline. They are glabrous or very lightly pilose (i.e. with fine soft hair).[3]
The flowers are bisexual with all three petals being blue, though the smaller lower petal is white towards the centre. The centre-most stamen has a white connective (i.e. the portion connecting the two halves of the anther). There are 3 cruciform staminodes present, each with yellow antherodes, these often showing a maroon spot at their centres. The fruit is a capsule, each having 3 locules and 2 valves and measuring 6 to 8 mm, though they may be rarely as small as 5 mm. Each capsule contains 5 dark brown seeds that measure 2.4 to 4.3 mm long, and rarely up to 4.6 mm, by 2 to 2.3 mm wide, though rarely they can be as narrow as 1.6 mm. They are smooth to faintly alveolate (i.e. with a honeycombed surface) with a mealy texture. The chromosome number is 2n = ca. 86.[3]
Commelina caroliniana is an endemic species to the India Subcontinent. It is commonly found in fields, swamps and irrigated fields. It was introduced in South Carolina in the year 1696 and spread across to the southern east part of United States. It is also present in Phillipines and Guam. In India it is found in Andaman, Delhi, Gujarat, Goa, Kerala, Maharastra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. The species has been located from 32 localities in the India sub continent. The area of occupancy and extent of occurrence are wide. Data on population trends and conservation has not been reported. It is therefore listed as Least Concern.
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Commelina for identification no190413sn1 : Attachments (3). 4 posts by 3 authors.
Kindly identify this Commelina species. date/time:oct12
location :amby valley rd. lonavala/ mulshi, pune
habitat:wild
plant habit:herb
height:about 2ft. This is also look likes Commelina diffusa for me… needs lateral view of spathes to conclude identity more firmly…. This appears to be Commelina caroliniana! .
Only a suggestion. Not sure. Check this link: Thank you very much dear …, for the suggestion, it is very close to Commelina forsskalii, but lower petal is clearly visible, growing very rare here and entire plant were died, only visible again in next season, More close to Commelina caroliniana, please check!! Yes, it is very close to Commelina caroliniana, dear …, thank you very much for ID my plant, .
This appears to be Commelina caroliniana.
. References: The Plant List Ver.1.1 WCSP IPNI BSI Flora of India checklist Flora of North America Annotated checklist of Flowering plants of Nepal JSTOR (Specimen) India Biodiversity Portal IBIS Flora Wikipedia IUCN Red List (LC) |
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