FIELD ID CHARACTERISTICS:
Two-petaled flowers are distinctive; look for leaf sheaths extending below leaf bases.
Synonym(s): Commelina deficiens, Commelina longifolia
Description: Low to medium height herb with wide, simple leaves, succulent stems, and two- or three-petaled blue flowers. Often recumbent.
Leaves: Alternate, lance-shaped, simple, with entire margins and parallel veins. Leaf sheaths extend below leaf base onto stem; sheaths with short, coarse, reddish hairs.
Flowers/Fruit: Solitary blue flowers with two or three frilly petals, one smaller than the other two. Fruits fairly large, flattened sheaths with 2 to 3 sides, containing brown or reddish seeds. Blooms and fruits July to October.
Habit and Range: Bottomlands, wet forests, and forest edges. Found statewide.
COMMON CONFUSIONS:
Six species of Commelina occur in North Carolina; two are non-native. The most widespread species are Commelina communis (Asiatic dayflower; non-native), C. diffusa (climbing dayflower; non-native), C. erecta (whitemouth dayflower), and C. virginica (Virginia dayflower), all differing slightly in flower details and size. In C. communis and C. erecta the third, lower petal is white. Commelina spp. leaves could be confused with Murdannia keisak (wart-removing herb), which grows in sunny wet areas and has smaller, narrower leaves and small three-petaled white or pink flowers.
Click here to view Murdannia keisak.
Link to side-by-side comparisons page
