Herbs, annual or perennial. Roots thin [tuberous]. Leaves: blade sessile. Inflorescences terminal, terminal and axillary, or all axillary, thyrses to fascicles of 1-flowered cymes; spathaceous bracts absent; bracteoles persistent or caducous. Flowers bisexual or bisexual and staminate, radially or bilaterally symmetric; pedicels well developed; sepals distinct, subequal; petals distinct, white to purple or violet, rarely yellow, subequal, not clawed; stamens 2–3 fertile and antisepalous, 3–4 staminodial and antipetalous (if 4, then 1 antisepalous); filaments glabrous or bearded; antherodes usually 3-lobed; ovary 3-locular, ovules 1–many per locule, 1[–2]-seriate. Capsules 3-valved, 3-locular. Seeds 1–many per locule, 1[–2]-seriate; hilum punctiform to linear; embryotega abaxial to semilateral. x = 6, 7, 9, 10, 11.

Distribution

Introduced; pantropical and warm temperate.

Discussion

Species ca. 50 (3 in the flora).

Selected References

Faden, R. B. 1978. Review of the lectotypification of Aneilema R. Br. (Commelinaceae). Taxon 27: 289--298.

Shinners, L. H. 1962. Aneilema (Commelinaceae) in the United States. Sida 1: 100--101.

Lower Taxa

Murdannia keisak, Murdannia nudiflora, Murdannia spirata

Key

1	Flowers in 1-flowered cymes; cymes solitary or in fascicles; capsules (4–)5–9 mm	Murdannia keisak
1	Flowers in several-flowered cymes; cymes solitary or thyrses; capsules 2.5–5 mm.	> 2
2	Bracteoles caducous; capsules with 2 seeds per locule; 2 stamens fertile, 4 staminodial	Murdannia nudiflora
2	Bracteoles persistent; capsules with 3–7 seeds per locule; 3 stamens fertile, 3 staminodial	Murdannia spirata