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Commelinaceae
Commelina

not marked as a favorite taxon Commelina erecta Linnaeus var. angustifolia (Michaux) Fernald.

Non-standard. Added for North Carolina Botanical Garden planted species. Habitat: Non-standard. Added for North Carolina Botanical Garden planted species.

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect or ascending perennial of dry openings and woodlands, especially in thin soil around rock outcrops, stream banks, river banks and mesic forests.

Stems: Stems simple or forked, slender, succulent, usually hairy.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, widely spreading, sessile with the base of the leaf enclosing the stem in a small sheath fringed with white hairs, 4-6 in. long and smooth.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers single or in small clusters, 3/4-1 1/4 in. wide, consisting of 2 round blue (rarely white) petals with one very small white petal in the middle, 3 purple and 3 yellow stamens (one of the latter with a notably larger, butterfly-shaped anther), and a pistil with a slender style; below the flower is a folded, leafy bract 1-1½ inches long. Flowers open in morning and wither by afternoon.

Fruits: Fruit a small 3-celled capsule.

Comments: Similar to Common Dayflower (Commelina communis, see p. xx), a not-native species.

Height: up to 2 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect or ascending perennial of dry openings and woodlands, especially in thin soil around rock outcrops, stream banks, river banks and mesic forests.

stems: Stems simple or forked, slender, succulent, usually hairy.

leaves: Leaves alternate, widely spreading, sessile with the base of the leaf enclosing the stem in a small sheath fringed with white hairs, 4-6 in. long and smooth.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers single or in small clusters, 3/4-1 1/4 in. wide, consisting of 2 round blue (rarely white) petals with one very small white petal in the middle, 3 purple and 3 yellow stamens (one of the latter with a notably larger, butterfly-shaped anther), and a pistil with a slender style; below the flower is a folded, leafy bract 1-1½ inches long. Flowers open in morning and wither by afternoon.

fruits: Fruit a small 3-celled capsule.

comments: Similar to Common Dayflower (Commelina communis, see p. xx), a not-native species.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: central & eastern United States



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