240 FLORA. 



(2 seeds in each of the ventral cells, i in the dorsal) ; seeds oblong, reticulated, 

 about 2 mm. long. Along streams and in waste places, N. J. to Ind. and Mo., south 

 to Fla., Tex. and through tropical America to Paraguay. Widely distributed in 

 Asia and Africa. July-Oct. 



2. Commelina communis L. ASIATIC DAY-FLOWER. (I. F. f. 907.) Glabrous 

 or nearly so ; stems ascending or decumbent, sometimes rooting at the nodes, 

 3-9 dm. long. Leaves lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 4-12 cm. long, acuminate at 

 the apex, narrowed or rounded at the base, smooth ; sheath white-membranous 

 with green veins, sometimes ciliate, 1.5-2.5 cm. long; spathes few, peduncled, their 

 2 bracts acute, nearly 2.5 cm. long, glabrous or sometimes pubescent, distinct; 

 flowers deep blue, 12 mm. broad or more ; ventral cavities of the ovary 2-ovuled, 

 the dorsal i-ovuled ; capsule 2-celled, each cavity 2-seeded ; seeds dark brown, 

 roughened. In waste places, S. N. Y. and E. Penn., south to Ga. and Ky. Ad- 

 ventive or naturalized from Asia. July-Oct. 



3. Commelina crispa Wooton. CURLEY-LEAVED DAY-FLOWER. Finely 

 villous or glabrate below ; stems commonly branched at the base, the branches 

 29 dm. long. Leaves lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 38 cm. long, acuminate, 

 crisped, slightly contracted at the base ; sheaths pale, 12-15 mm. long, ciliate ; 

 spathes 2-2.5 cm. long, acute or acuminate, pubescent, united at the base ; sepals 

 orbicular-elliptic ; petals various, the 2 upper light blue, with slender claws and 

 broadly reniform blades 1-1.5 cm - broad, the third white, lanceolate, 2-3 mm. 

 long ; capsules 4-5 mm. long, 3-celled, 2 cavities dehiscent, third cavity indehis- 

 cent ; seeds smooth. In sandy and rocky soil, Neb. to Tex. andN. Mex. Summer 

 and fall. 



4. Commelina Virginica L. VIRGINIA DAY-FLOWER. (I. F. f. 909.) 

 Similar to the preceding species, somewhat pubescent, or glabrous ; stems diffusely 

 branched, 4-9 dm. high. Leaves lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 6-12 cm. long, 

 acuminate at the apex ; sheaths inflated, often pubescent, the orifice sometimes 

 fringed ; spathes several, usually peduncled, the 2 bracts acute or acuminate, 

 15-25 mm. long, distinct ; corollas 2.5 cm. broad or less, showy ; capsule 

 3-celled, each cavity I -seeded, the dorsal one indehiscent and roughened. In 

 moist soil, S. N. Y. to 111. and Mich., south to Fla., Neb., Tex. and through 

 tropical America to Paraguay. June-Sept. 



5. Commelina erecta L. SLENDER DAY-FLOWER. (I. F. f. 908.) Somewhat 

 pubescent, or glabrous ; stems commonly tufted, erect or ascending, 3-7 dm. tall, 

 the roots thickened. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 615 cm. long, acuminate at the 

 apex, narrowed at the base ; sheaths 12-25 mm - l n g> often hirsute ; spathes 

 peduncled or sessile, acute or acuminate, distinct, 2-4 cm. long ; corollas 12 mm. 

 broad or more; ovary 3-celled, each cavity i-ovuled ; capsule papery, all its cavities 

 dehiscent, each I -seeded ; seeds ash-colored, nearly or quite smooth, puberulent. 

 In moist soil, S. Penn. (according to Watson), south to Fla., Tex. and in tropical 

 America. Aug.-Oct. 



6. Commelina hirtella Vahl. BEARDED DAY-FLOWER. (I. F. f. 906.) Stem 

 stout, erect or ascending, 5-12 dm. high. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, roughish, 

 10-18 cm. long, their sheaths 12-25 mm. long, fringed with rather stiff and long 

 brownish hairs and sometimes pubescent ; spathes sessile or short-peduncled, often 

 clustered at the summits of the stem and branches; bracts acute, united at the base, 

 rather strongly cross- veined ; ventral cavities of the ovary 2-ovuled, the other 

 i-ovuled ; capsule 5 -seeded; seeds brown, somewhat more than 2 mm. long, smooth, 

 minutely puberulent. In moist soil, S. N. J. to Mo., south to Fla. and Tex. 

 Aug.-Oct 



2. TRADESCANTIA L. 



Somewhat mucilaginous herbs, with simple or branched stems, mostly narrow 

 and elongated leaves, and showy regular flowers in terminal, or terminal and axil- 

 lary, umbel-like cymes subtended by leaf-like or scarious bracts. Sepals 3, dis- 

 tinct, herbaceous. Petals 3, sessile. Stamens 6, all alike and fertile, or those 

 opposite the petals shorter. Filaments bearded or glabrous. Ovary 3-celled, the 

 cavities usually 2-ovuled. Capsule 3-celled, loculicidally 3-valved, 3~i2-seeded. 

 [In honor of John Tradescant, gardener to Charles I, died 1638.] About 35 species, 



