90. COMMELINACEM. [ 1. Cokmelisa. 



B. Stamens 6 perfect. 

 Cymes scorpioid, fls. hidden by imbricating spathaceous 

 bracts 3 - Cyanotis. 



1. Commelina, L. 



Herbs with blue or wbite small irregular flowers in 

 racemes or few fid. 2-nate cymes which are included in 

 conduplicate or cucullate spathes, only one flower emerging 

 at a time. Upper flowers usually male. Ovary 3 rarely 

 2-celled, 2 cells 1-2-ovuled, the third with only 1 ovule or 

 empty. 



3. C. bengalensis, £• Kana arak', S. 



A herb with subsucculent branches often rooting below, 

 ell. -ovate leaves 1-3" suddenly, contracted at the base or 

 rounded, and bright-blue flowers which emerge singly from 

 a cowl-like conduplicate spathe into which the fruit is again 

 retracted by the reflexed pedicel. 



Damp places, common, and on high ground in the rains. Fls., Fr. 

 July-Od. and also at other times. 



Root with tubers \" diam. Stem often pilose below the nodes, sheaths 

 pubescent and with long setse or ciliae above. One fork of the cyme 

 with usually a single pedicelled barren flower, the other with about 2 

 fertile flowers. Capsules 5-seeded. 



The plant is eaten as a pot-herb. 

 2. C- suflfruticosa, Blume. Dare orsa, S. 



A much stouter herb than the last with large sessile lan- 

 ceolate-acuminate leaves attaining 1 ft. long and 2* broad 

 with anricled sheaths. Spathes many small. Fls. white or 

 blue in a 6-12-fld. raceme. 



Jungles, not common. 



L. roughly pubescent. Spathes £-£" conduplicate slightly cucullate 

 villous, exceeding the short peduncle. Capsule 2-celled. Seeds rugose. 



The root is applied to sores, Campbell. 



There are several other speeies of Commelina in Chota Nagpur, but 

 not, I believe, put to any use. 



535 



