| Whitemouth Dayflower (Commelina erecta) Linnaeus, 1753 |
| Synonyms: Commelina angustifolia, Commelina crispa, Commelina elegans, Commelina sulcata, Commelina venusta, Commelina virginica (see The Plant List for more synonyms), slender dayflower, widow's tears |
.jpg) |
.jpg) |
.jpg) |
.jpg) |
Commelina erecta is native throughout the temperate and tropical Americas (from New York and the Mississippi Valley to Argentina; the West Indies), Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. It grows in sandy and rocky woodlands, scrublands, grasslands, forest edges, coastal dunes, roadsides, and old fields; up to at least 1,300 m. C. erecta is a perennial herb; highly variable. The stem is ascending or erect, up to 90 cm, often branching. The leaves are entire, sessile or petiolate, linear to lanceolate. The flower is ephemeral, with 3 petals, blue, white or lavender; the upper 2 petals 10-25 mm long, the lower petal is minute, 5-7 mm. The fruit is a capsule.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)