Commelina diffusa
Flora Indica. nec non Prodromus Florae Capensis 18, plate 7, fig. 2. 1768.
Herbs, perennial or annual, spreading. Stems decumbent to scandent. Leaves: blade narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, lanceolate-elliptic or ovate, 1.5–14 × 0.5–3.3 cm, margins scabrous, apex acute to acuminate, glabrous. Inflorescences: distal cyme 1–several-flowered, usually exserted; spathes solitary, bright green, without contrasting veins, pedunculate, usually distinctly falcate, (0.5–)0.8–4 × 0.4–1.2(–1.4) cm, margins distinct, glabrous or scabrous, sometimes also sparsely ciliate or ciliolate basally, apex usually acuminate, usually glabrous or nearly so; peduncles 0.5–2(–4) cm. Flowers bisexual and staminate; petals all blue (rarely all lavender), proximal petal smaller; medial stamen anther connective usually with transverse band of violet; staminodes 2–3; antherodes yellow, medial often absent or vestigial, cruciform. Capsules 3-locular, 2-valved, 4–6.3 mm. Seeds 5 (or less through abortion), brown, 2–2.8(–3.2) × 1.4–1.8 mm, deeply reticulate.
Distribution
Pantropical.
Discussion
The name Commelina nudiflora Linnaeus has been incorrectly used for this species.
Varieties 4 (2 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Key
| 1 | Leaf blades 1.5–5(–8) × 0.5–1(–2.2) cm; medial anther connective with broad transverse violet band; capsules 5-seeded (occasionally less, by abortion) | Commelina diffusa var. diffusa |
| 1 | Leaf blades 6–14 × 1–3.3 cm; medial anther connective without dark band; capsules typically 1–2-seeded | Commelina diffusa var. gigas |