532 CV. COMMELINACEJS 
to form a tube. Stamens 6, inserted at the base of the seg- 
ments, all or only 3 anther-bearing ; anthers 2-celled, those of 
the sterile stamens or staminodes linear, variously curved, con- 
taining little or no pollen, filaments naked -or hairy. Ovary 
free, 3-celled ; style thread-like, stigma small ; ovules one or few in 
each cell. Capsule 3-valved or 2-valved by abortion ; seeds few, 
small, usually angular and wrinkled. — Tropical and warm regions. 
The bright yellow, deformed anthers of the staminodes attract and afford 
food to insects, thus aiding in cross-fertilisation. 
Fertile stamens 3. Staminodes 3. 
Flowers sky-blue. Filaments naked . . . . .1. Commeiina. 
Flowers red-blue. Filaments hairy . . . . .2. Aneilema. 
Fertile stamens (5 ......... 3. Cyanotis. 
1. COMMELINA. In honour of K. and J. Commelin, Dutch 
botanists. — Tropical and w T arm regions. 
Stems slender, creeping and rooting towards the base. Flowers 
blue, in a small cluster or cyme enclosed in a leaf -like, folded bract 
or spathe from which the flowers successively issue as they expand. 
Spathe broadly ovate, J-J in. long, cordate, pointed. Sepals 
membranous, sometimes united at the base. Petals free, longer 
than the sepals, one larger than the others, claw long, limb 
orbicular, spreading. Fertile stamens 3, staminodes 3, filaments 
naked. Ovules 1 or 2 in each cell. Seeds 3 or 5, small, oblong. 
C. ccelestis, a Mexican species known as the Spider-wort, ft. high, with 
large, sky-blue flowers, is cultivated at Simla, and may occasionally be found 
as an escape. For an account of the self-fertilisation of this plant by means 
of the spirally coiled style, see Kerner’s Natural History of Plants , ii. 357. 
Leaves ovate ; tip obtuse or rounded. Capsule 5-seeded . 1. C. benghalensis. 
Leaves lanceolate ; tip acute. Capsule 3-seeded . . 2. C. obligua. 
1. Commeiina benghalensis, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 370. Stems 
several, 6-18 in., sometimes longer, pubescent or glabrous. Leaves 
sessile or stalked, finely pubescent, broadly ovate, 1-3 x tt-TJ in., 
tip obtuse or rounded ; sheaths hairy, fringed. Spathes 1-3 to- 
gether, axillary or terminal. Petals pale blue, one of them nearly 
white. Ovary 3-celled, 2 cells with 2 ovules in each, the third 
with 1. Capsule 5-seeded ; seeds wrinkled. 
Valleys below 6000 ft. ; July-October. — Throughout India. — Tropical Asia 
and Africa. 
2. Commeiina obliqua, Buch.-Ham . ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 372. 
Stems 2-3 ft., branched, pubescent or glabrous. Leaves sessile, 
lanceolate, 1^-1 x J-l in., acute or long-pointed ; sheaths fringed. 
Spathes in a terminal head partially enclosed by a pair of opposite 
leaves usually filled with a clear, glutinous substance. Petals pale 
blue, one of them nearly white. Ovary 3-celled, 1 ovule in each 
cell. Capsule 3-seeded ; seeds minutely dotted. (Fig. 176.) 
Simla, common ; July, August. — Throughout India. — Tropical Asia. 
