Commelina erecta

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Commelina erecta
Blue Pair.JPG
Commelina erecta in an Israeli garden
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Commelinales
Family: Commelinaceae
Genus: Commelina
Species:
C. erecta
Binomial name
Commelina erecta
L., Sp. Pl. 1: 41. 1753.
Synonyms [2]
  • Commelina elegans Kunth [3]
  • Commelina pohliana Seub.
  • Commelina sulcata Willd.
  • Commelina virginica auct. non L.
  • Commelina virginica L. var. australis C.B.Clarke

Commelina erecta, commonly known as the white mouth dayflower, slender dayflower, or widow's tears, is a perennial herb native throughout the Americas, Africa and western Asia. It is considered to be the most variable species of Commelina in North America.

Contents

Distribution and habitat

Commelina erecta is native to much of the world, including the Americas, Africa and western Asia. In the Americas it is present in the United States, the West Indies, every country of Central America and south through the tropics into Argentina. In the United States it can be found from New York and Nebraska in the north, south to Florida and Texas. [4] In the West Indies it is present throughout Puerto Rico and on several of the Virgin Islands such as Saint Croix, Saint Thomas, Saint John, George Dog Island, Anegada, Great Camanoe, Guana Island, Tortola and Water Island. [5] The native Slender dayflower is located occasionally in the western half Illinois, Northeast, and Southern Illinois. It is usually in dry sand prairies, woodlands, or anywhere drier than normal. (illinoiswildflowers.info)

In tropical Africa the plant is also widespread. In west Africa it is present in Senegal, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria, and Bioko. [6]

In Nigeria, the plant is known as Ewe Apolukuluku and Itopere.

In the West Indies it is common in disturbed sites as well as in dry to moist woods from sea level up to 1300 meters. [5]

It can grow in a wide range of habitats, both natural and disturbed, including prairies, streambanks, gardens, and roadsides. [7]

References

  1. NatureServe (2024). "Commelina erecta". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  2. De Egea, J.; Pena-Chocarro, M.; Espada, C.; Knapp, S. (2012). "Checklist of vascular plants of the Department of Ñeembucú, Paraguay". PhytoKeys (9): 15–179. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.9.2279 . PMC   3281576 . PMID   22371688.
  3. Kunth Nov. Gen. Sp. (quarto ed.) 1: 259–260 1815 [1816]
  4. Faden, Robert (2006), "Commelina erecta", Flora of North America online, vol. 22, New York & Oxford: Oxford University Press, retrieved 2007-12-12
  5. 1 2 Acevedo-Rodriguez, Pedro; Strong, Mark T. (2005), "Monocotyledons and Gymnosperms of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands", Contributions of the United States National Herbarium, 52: 158
  6. Brenan, J.P.M. (1968), "Commelinaceae", in Hutchinson, J.; Dalziel, J.M. (eds.), Flora of West Tropical Africa, vol. 3, pp. 49–50
  7. Lloyd-Reilley, J. and E. Kadin. (2006). Plant Guide: Erect Dayflower Commelina erecta. N.R.C.S. United States Department of Agriculture. Kingsville, TX.

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