Commelina gambiae

C. B. Clarke in A. L. P. de Candolle and C. de Candolle

in A. L. P. de Candolle and C. de Candolle,Monographiae Phanerogamarum 3: 146. 1881.

IntroducedIllustrated
Synonyms: Commelina nigritana var. gambiae (C. B. Clarke) Brenan
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 22.

Herbs, annual, 10–30 cm. Stems ascending to decumbent. Leaves: blade sessile, linear to linear-lanceolate, 2–15 × 0.3–1 cm, glabrous or sparsely hirsute. Inflorescences: proximal cyme ± 2-flowered, distal cyme absent; spathes solitary, whitish basally, pedunculate, usually slightly falcate, 0.9–2 × 0.4–1 cm, margins distinct, connate basally, apex acuminate, sparsely hirsute; peduncles 0.3–1.6 cm. Flowers bisexual, less than 1 cm wide; proximal sepals connate, forming cup; paired petals apricot or peach-colored, proximal petal white, minute; staminodes 3; antherodes yellow, cruciform. Capsules 3-locular, 3-valved, 4–5.5 mm. Seeds 5, brown, 1.9–2.7 × 2–2.4 mm, reticulate. 2n = 56.


Phenology: Flowering fall.
Habitat: Roadsides, pastures, and levees

Distribution

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Introduced; Fla., native, w Africa

Discussion

Commelina gambiae was first found in Florida in 1976 and is now recorded from five counties. Commelina nigratana var. nigritana, which is unknown outside of Africa, differs by having three one-seeded locules, the seeds each with two pits and lacking the reticulation.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Commelina gambiae"
acuminate +
Robert B. Faden +
C. B. Clarke in A. L. P. de Candolle and C. de Candolle +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> - 15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br /> +
hirsute +  and glabrous +
linear;linear-lanceolate +
succulent +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> - 1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> - 0.55 cm5.5 mm <br />0.0055 m <br /> +
Fla. +, native +  and w Africa +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> - 1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> +
Roadsides, pastures, and levees +
thyrsiform +  and cymose +
arranged +  and 2-ranked +
cauline +  and basal +
not glaucous +
connate +  and distinct +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> - 1.6 cm16 mm <br />0.016 m <br /> +
peach-colored +  and apricot +
distinct +
unequal +
Flowering fall. +
in A. L. P. de Candolle and C. de Candolle,Monographiae Phanerogamarum +
0.19 cm1.9 mm <br />0.0019 m <br /> - 0.27 cm2.7 mm <br />0.0027 m <br /> +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> - 0.24 cm2.4 mm <br />0.0024 m <br /> +
distinct +
subequal +
0.9cm;2cm +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> - 1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> +
Introduced +  and Illustrated +
staminodial +
some +  and fertile +
ascending +  and decumbent +
not +  and enlarged +
slender +
Commelina nigritana var. gambiae +
Commelina gambiae +
Commelina +
species +