242 COMMELINACEAE 
olate, 4-12 cm. long, acute or acuminate at the apex, acute or rounded at the base ; sheaths 
whitish, with green nerves, usually erose-ciliate : peduncles 1-3 cm. long: spathes 2-4 em. 
long, acute, about twice as long as broad, not united at the base : capsules 2-celled, 6-7 mm. 
long, apiculate : seeds 4 in each capsule, 3-3.5 mm. long, tuberculate and pitted. 
In waste places, New York to Pennsylvania, Georgia and Kentucky. Summer. 
3. Commelina Náshii Small. Stems from cord-like spreading roots, erect or 
branched at the base; branches ascending or spreading, 2-4 dm. long, slender, glabrous 
except parts of the upper internodes: leaf-blades linear or nearly so, 4-8 cm. long, 
acuminate, somewhat crisped, glabrous above the base; sheaths 1 cm. long or shorter, 
ribbed, ciliate: spathes 1 cm. long or shorter, acute, closed at the truncate base, curved on 
the dorsal side, sharp-pointed : capsule about 4 mm. long, prominently striate: seeds 2.5-3 
mm. long, smooth and glabrous. 
In sandy soil, North Carolina to Florida and Mississippi. Summer and fall. 
4. Commelina Swingleàna Nash. Stems erect or ascending from a cluster of de- 
scending, narrowly fusiform roots, 1-4 dm. long, simple or branched at the base and some- 
times above, internodes or parts below the nodes pubescent or scabrous: leaf-blades linear 
to narrowly linear-lanceolate, 11-12 em. long, attenuate, glabrous or ciliate near the base ; 
sheaths somewhat inflated, 8-12 mm. long: peduncles 5-8 mm. long: spathes about 2 cm. 
long, acuminate, somewhat faleate, closed at the base : corolla showy : larger petals deep 
blue, the blades reniform, about 12 mm. long, 17 mm. broad, the claws 3-4 mm. long: 
capsules subglobose, 4-5 mm. long, glabrous: seeds 3 in each capsule, 3-3.5 mm. long, 
smooth, dark brown. 
In pine lands, Florida. Spring to fall. 
5. Commelina angustifolia Michx. Stems erect or diffusely branched at the base, 
from cord-like roots, 2-8 dm. long, internodes, at least the lower ones, glabrous : leaf-blades 
linear or nearly so, sometimes narrowly linear, 3-12 cm. long, attenuate, glabrous beyond 
the ciliate bases ; sheaths 1-2 em. long, green or purplish, ribbed : spathes 2-2.5 cm. long, 
acute or acuminate, pubescent mainly nearthe base : capsules 3-4 mm. long, about as broad : 
seeds about 3 mm. long, puberulent, otherwise smooth. 
In sandy soil, North Carolina to Florida. Spring. 
6. Commelina crispa Wooton. Stems finely villous, or glabrate below, branched 
at the base; main branches ascending or spreading, 2-9 dm. long, usually branched : 
leaf-blades lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 3-8 em. long, acuminate, crisped, slightly con- 
tracted at the base ; sheaths thin, pale, 12-15 mm. long, ciliate with a few bristle-like hairs: 
spathes 2-2.5 cm. long, acute or acuminate, pubescent throughout, united at the base : sepals 
orbicular-elliptic : petals various, upper 2 bright blue, with slender claws 3-4 mm. long, 
and broadly reniform blades 1-1.5 cm. broad, delicately veined ; third petal white, lance- 
olate, 2-3 mm. long: capsules 4-5 mm. long, 2-celled, 2 cavities dehiscent, the third inde- 
hiscent : seeds smooth. 
In sandy and rocky soil, Nebraska to Texas and New Mexico. Summer and fall. 
7. Commelina Virginica L. Stems branched ; branches spreading or decumbent, 2-9 
dm. long, pubescent, sometimes zigzag : leaf-blades lanceolate, often narrowly so, 3-10 cm. 
long, mostly acuminate, often quite narrow at the base ; sheaths pale, 1.5-2 em. long, often 
fringed at the top: peduncles 5-10 mm. long: spathes 2-3 cm. long, acuminate, mainly 
longer than broad: closed at the base: capsules 4-5 mm. long, glabrous, 2-valved, the 
dorsal cavity indehiscent : seeds 3-3.5 mm. long. 
In moist or dry sandy soil, New York to Nebraska, Florida and Texas. Summer to fall. 
8. Commelina erécta L. Stems simple and erect or diffusely branched at the base, 
1-8 dm. long, pubescent at least near the nodes : leaf-blades linear to linear-lanceolate, 6-12 
em. long, acute or attenuate, more or less pubescent, sometimes hirsute ; sheaths somewhat 
hirsute and ciliate: peduncles 5-12 mm. long: spathes 2-2.5 cm. long, short-acuminate, 
nerved, closed at the base : capsules 3-valved, all cavities dehiscent, 3-4 mm. long, about as ' 
broad : seeds 3 in each capsule, 3 mm. long, puberulent. 
In rocky soil or banks, Pennsylvania to Florida and Texas and tropical America. Summer and 
9. Commelina saxicola Small. Stems often branched at the base: branches spread- 
ing or decumbent, 2-8 dm. long, simple or again branched, pubescent below the nodes: 
leaves remote ; blades lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 4-10 cm. long, acute, more or less 
pubescent, pale beneath : sheaths 1-15 em. long, pubescent, with a collar-like ciliate dilation 
at the top: pedicels 5-8 mm. long, minutely pubescent : spathes about 1.5 cm. long, nearly 
or quite as broad, finely pubescent, merely acute, nearly straight on the back : petals bright 
blue; blades 2 cm. broad, about 1.5 em. high, crisped, notched: capsules 4-5 mm. long: 
seeds 3 mm. in diameter. 
On rocks, especially granite, North Carolina and Georgia. Summer. 
