| Commelina communis L. |
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| Herbarium: | Rhodes College Herbarium (SWMT)Herbarium's Specimen Details Page |
| Family: | Commelinaceae |
| Currently Accepted Name: | Commelina communis L. |
| Herbarium Name Used: | Commelina communis |
| Locality: | United States. Tennessee. Shelby: Memphis, Overton Park, along main trail. |
| Description: | This introduced annual plant is 1-3' long. It can be erect or sprawl across the ground like a vine. The round stems are smooth and hairless. The hairless alternate leaves are up to 5 long and 2 across. They are ovate, lanceolate-ovate, or slightly cordate. Their margins are smooth and their veins run parallel to each other. The base of each leaf is sessile or clasping, and it has a membranous sheath that wraps around the stem. This sheath is about 1 long and has green longitudinal veins, otherwise it is white or greenish white. The upper edge of the sheath is usually hairless. A single flower on a stalk about 1-2 long is produced from the leaf axils. This flower is about ½-1 across, consisting of 2 large blue petals. The sepals are usually pale white and translucent. The upper stamens have showy yellow anthers; they are sterile. The lower stamens are longer than the upper stamens and fertile, although their anthers are less showy. An upturned spathe lies underneath the flower, is green and about 1-2 long. |
| Habitat: | This introduced annual plant is 1-3' long. It can be erect or sprawl across the ground like a vine. The round stems are smooth and hairless. The hairless alternate leaves are up to 5 long and 2 across. They are ovate, lanceolate-ovate, or slightly cordate. Their margins are smooth and their veins run parallel to each other. The base of each leaf is sessile or clasping, and it has a membranous sheath that wraps around the stem. This sheath is about 1 long and has green longitudinal veins, otherwise it is white or greenish white. The upper edge of the sheath is usually hairless. A single flower on a stalk about 1-2 long is produced from the leaf axils. This flower is about ½-1 across, consisting of 2 large blue petals. The sepals are usually pale white and translucent. The upper stamens have showy yellow anthers; they are sterile. The lower stamens are longer than the upper stamens and fertile, although their anthers are less showy. An upturned spathe lies underneath the flower, is green and about 1-2 long. |
| Collector: | A. DeGenova &R. Jabaily &E. Johnson &A. Gardner 101 |
| Date: | 18 June 2013 |
| Accession No: | SWMT05051 |
| Plant Atlas Link: | Plant Atlas Citation |