Flora of the Southeastern United States

Commelina erecta Linnaeus var. angustifolia (Michaux) Fernald. Common name: Sand Dayflower. Phenology: Jun-Oct. Habitat: Dunes and dry sand flats on barrier islands, longleaf pine sandhills, other dry sandy sites, shale barrens, other dry rocky sites. Distribution: E. NC south to s. FL, west to TX, and north and west in the interior to IA, nw. NE, CO, and NM; also apparently in Central and South America.

ID notes: Contrary to the specific epithet, C. erecta var. angustifolia is a trailing plant, the stems sometimes as long as 1.3 m.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: The taxonomy and distribution of the varieties here recognized need further study.

Synonymy ⓘ: = C, ETx1, F, G, Il, NcTx, Tat, Tx, WV, Brashier (1966); > Commelina angustifolia Michx. — S, S13; > Commelina crispa Wooton — S, S13; > Commelina elegans Kunth — Bah; < Commelina erecta L. var. angustifolia (Michx.) Fernald — FNA22, K4, Meso6, RAB, Tn, W, WH3, Faden (1993), Tucker (1989); < Commelina erecta L. var. angustifolia (Michx.) Fernald — GrPl; > Commelina nashii Small — S13. Basionym: Commelina angustifolia Michx. 1803

Links to other floras: < Commelina erecta - FNA22

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Midwest: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: UPL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 8