458 



COMMELINACEAE. 



Vol. I. 



2. Commelina communis L. Asiatic Day- 

 flower. Fig. 1 148. 



Commelina communis L. Sp. PI. 40- : 753- 

 Commelina Willdenovii Kunth, Enum. 4: 37. 1843. 



Glabrous or nearly so, sterns ascending or de- 

 cumbent, rather slender, sometimes rooting at the 

 nodes, i°-3° long. Leaves lanceolate or oblong- 

 lanceolate, 3-5' long, i-il' wide, acuminate at the 

 apex, narrowed or rounded at the base, smooth; 

 sheath white-membranous with green veins, some- 

 times ciliate, 8"-i2" long; spathes few, peduncled, 

 their 2 bracts acute or acuminate, nearly 1' long, 

 glabrous or sometimes pubescent, distinct ; flowers 

 deep blue, 1' or more broad; ventral cells of the 

 ovary 2-ovuled, the dorsal i-ovuled ; capsule 2-celled, 

 each cell 2-seeded; seeds compressed, dark brown, 

 roughened. 



Southern New York to Pennsylvania, Georgia and 

 Kentucky, and reported from farther north. Adventive or naturalized from Asia. 



July-Oct. 



3. Commelina crispa Wooton. Curly- 

 leaved Day-flower. Fig. 1149. 



Commelina crispa Wooton, Bull. Torr. Club 25 : 

 451. 1898. 



Finely villous or glabrous below ; stems com- 

 monly branched at the base, the branches 

 i°-3° long. Leaves lanceolate or linear-lanceo- 

 late, ij'-3i' long, acuminate, crisped, slightly 

 contracted at the base; sheaths pale, 6"-7i" 

 long, ciliate ; spathes l'-i' long, acute or acumi- 

 nate, pubescent, united at the base; sepals 

 orbicular-elliptic; petals various, the 2 upper 

 light blue, with slender claws and broadly 

 reniform blades, 5"-/' broad, the third white, 

 lanceolate, i"-ii" long; capsule 2"-2i" long, 

 3-celled, 2 cavities dehiscent, third cavity in- 

 dehiscent; seeds smooth. 



In sandy and rocky soil, Missouri and Nebraska 

 to Texas and New Mexico. July-Sept. 



4. Commelina virginica L. Virginia Day- 

 flower. Fig. 1150. 



Commelina virginica L. Sp. PI. Ed. 2, 61. 1762. 



Similar to Commelina communis, somewhat pubes- 

 cent or glabrous, the stems diffusely branched, rather 

 stouter, ii°-3° high. Leaves lanceolate or linear- 

 lanceolate, 3'-s' long, s"-i2" wide, acuminate at 

 the apex; sheaths inflated, often pubescent, the 

 orifice sometimes fringed; spathes several, usually 

 peduncled, the 2 bracts acute or acuminate, 8"-ia" 

 long, distinct; flowers 1' broad or less, showy; cap- 

 sule 3-celled, each cell i-seeded, the dorsal one in- 

 dehiscent and roughened. 



In moist soil, southern New York to Illinois and 

 Michigan, south to Florida, Kansas, Texas and through 

 tropical America to Paraguay. June-Sept. 



