Commelina

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Commelina
Commelina communis flower with typical arrangement of floral parts: 3 staminodes are present above, 3 fertile stamens below with the central one differing in size and form, and a single style emerging between them (curved in this species).
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Commelinales Family: Commelinaceae Subfamily: Commelinoideae Tribe: Commelineae Genus: Commelina L.
Selected Species
Commelina benghalensis Commelina caroliniana Commelina communis Commelina cyanea Commelina diffusa Commelina erecta Commelina sellowiana Commelina tuberosa Commelina virginica

Commelina is a genus of approximately 170 species^[1] commonly called dayflowers due to the short lives of their flowers. They are less often known as widow's tears. It is by far the largest genus of its family, Commelinaceae.^[2] The Swedish taxonomist Carl Linnaeus of the 18th century named the genus after the two Dutch botanists Jan Commelijn and his nephew and Kaspar, each representing one of the showy petals of Commelina communis.^[1] A third brother who was not well known for his work is represented by the small white petal.^{[citation needed]}

The dayflowers are herbs that may be either perennial or annual. They are characterised by their zygomorphic flowers and by the involucral bracts called spathes that surround the flower stalks.^[3] These spathes are often filled with a mucilaginous liquid. Each spathe houses either 1 or 2 scorpioid cymes, with the upper cyme being either vestigial or bearing 1 to several male flowers, and the lower cyme bearing several flowers. All members of the genus have alternate leaves.^[1]

The Asiatic dayflower (Commelina communis) is probably the best known species in the west. It is a common weed in parts of Europe and throughout eastern North America^[1]. It grows happily in fairly urban environments, often colonizing neglected gardens. It can be seen growing among garden periwinkle plants, perhaps because the superficial similarity of their stems and leaves makes it harder to weed out.^{[citation needed]}

Several species, such as Commelina benghalensis, are eaten as a leaf vegetable in Southeast Asia and Africa.^[4]

Commelina cyanea, known as Native Wandering Jew or Scurvy Weed, is a native to eastern Australia and easy to grow substitute for the introduced weed Wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis).

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