( 3047 ) 



COMMELINA GRACILIS. SLENDER CoMMELINA. 



Class and Order. 

 Triandria Monogynia. 



( Nat. Ord. — Commeline^e. ) 



Generic Character. 



Cat. 3-sepalus. Cor. 3-petala, petalo uno ant altero 

 saepe abortiente. Stamina 3 spuria glandulosa, cruciata. 

 Capsula bi- trilocularis, spatha tecta. Spr. 



Specific Character and Synonyms. 



Commeltna * gracilis ; caule ascendente ramoso repente 

 colorato piloso pilis reflexis, foliis sessilibus Iariceo- 

 latis aciuninatisplanisutrinqueglabris, spatha cordata 

 compressa, floribus pentandris, petalis inaequalibus, 

 staminibus inclusis tribus fertilibus. Graham. 



Commelina gracilis. Ruiz et Pavon, Fl. Peruv. v. I. p. 44. 

 t. 72. Spreng. Syst. Veget. v. I. p. 173. 



Commelina formosa. Graham in Edin. Phil. Journ. Dec. 

 1830. 



Descr. Stem ascending, rooting, branched, red, espe- 

 cially above the joints, hairy, hairs reflected. Leaves 

 lanceolate, acuminate, flat, glabrous on both sides and 

 shining, bright green above, whitish below, seven-nerved, 

 the middle rib prominent behind, channelled above, sheaths 

 striated, ciliated. Peduncles (two inches long) straight, 

 with a line of reflexed hairs along the inner side (the cibae 

 of the adhering sheath of the spatha). Spatha heart-shaped, 

 folded, compressed, several- flowered, glabrous. Pedicels 



of 



* Named in compliment to John and Gas par Commemn, celebrated Duteh 

 Botanists. 



