Commelina diffusa var. diffusa

WeedyIntroduced
Synonyms: Commelina longicaulis
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 22.

Herbs, annual (sometimes perennial in south), diffusely spreading, rooting at nodes. Leaves: blade lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, lanceolate-elliptic or ovate, 1.5–5(–8) cm, 0.5–1.8(–2.2) cm, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences: proximal cyme 2–4-flowered, distal cyme of larger spathes usually exserted, 1–several-flowered; spathes solitary, pedunculate, usually distinctly falcate, (0.5–)0.8–2.5(–3.7) × 0.4–1.2(–1.4) cm, apex usually acuminate; peduncles 0.5–2(–2.9) cm. Flowers blue (rarely lavender); medial stamen anther connective with broad, transverse band of violet. Capsules 3-locular, 2-valved, 4–6.3 × (2.1–)3–4 mm. Seeds 5, brown, 2–2.8(–3.2) mm × 1.4–1.8 mm, deeply reticulate. 2n = 30.


Phenology: Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat: Disturbed situations (lawns, gardens, and cultivated ground), moist places, and woods

Distribution

V22 567-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Ala., Ark., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.C., Ohio, Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., pantropical.

Discussion

The report of this plant from Minnesota (H. A. Gleason and A. Cronquist 1991) is probably based on wrongly determined material.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Robert B. Faden +
Burman f. +
Ala. +, Ark. +, D.C. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Kans. +, Ky. +, La. +, Md. +, Miss. +, Mo. +, N.C. +, Ohio +, Okla. +, S.C. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Va. +  and pantropical. +
Disturbed situations (lawns, gardens, and cultivated ground), moist places, and woods +
Flowering spring–fall. +
Flora Indica. nec non Prodromus Florae Capensis +
Weedy +  and Introduced +
Commelina longicaulis +
Commelina diffusa var. diffusa +
Commelina diffusa +
variety +