*Commelina communis Linnaeus. Common name: Common Dayflower. Phenology: May-Oct. Habitat: Gardens, bottomlands, disturbed ground, and a common invader of rocky glades. Distribution: Native of the Old World.
Origin/Endemic status: Eurasia
Taxonomy Comments: Var. communis and var. ludens are sometimes distinguished (see synonymy): var. communis has flowers with larger petals pale blue and sterile anthers completely yellow, var. ludens has larger petals intense violet blue and sterile anthers with a brownish-purple spot.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, ETx1, FNA22, GrPl, GW1, Il, K4, Mi, Mo1, NcTx, NE, NY, RAB, S, S13, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, Brashier (1966), Faden (1993); > Commelina communis L. — Tat; > Commelina communis L. var. communis — F, G, Pa, WV, Tucker (1989); > Commelina communis L. var. ludens (Miq.) C.B.Clarke — F, G, Pa, WV, Tucker (1989); > Commelina debilis Ledeb. — Tat; Commelina communis L. — (basionym)
Links to other floras: = Commelina communis - FNA22
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Great Plains: FAC
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FAC
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect to sprawling annual of gardens, bottomlands and disturbed ground; a common invader of rocky glades. Native of Asia.
Stems: Stems branched, smooth, sometimes rooting at nodes.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile-clasping with sheathing bases, oval to lance-oval, 2-5 in. long, glossy and smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers solitary in leaf axils, on a stalk with a folded leaflike bract below; blue, 1/2-1 in. wide, consisting of 2 large blue petals, 1 small white petal, 3 whitish-translucent sepals, 5-6 stamens and a long white style. Each flower blooms during the morning for a single day.
Fruits: Fruit a rounded capsule.
Comments:
Height: 12-32 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect to sprawling annual of gardens, bottomlands and disturbed ground; a common invader of rocky glades. Native of Asia.
stems: Stems branched, smooth, sometimes rooting at nodes.
leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile-clasping with sheathing bases, oval to lance-oval, 2-5 in. long, glossy and smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers solitary in leaf axils, on a stalk with a folded leaflike bract below; blue, 1/2-1 in. wide, consisting of 2 large blue petals, 1 small white petal, 3 whitish-translucent sepals, 5-6 stamens and a long white style. Each flower blooms during the morning for a single day.
fruits: Fruit a rounded capsule.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: Asia