Commelina diffusa var. gigas

(Small) Faden

Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 80: 213. 1993.

Introduced
Basionym: Commelina gigas Man. S.E. Fl., 264. 1933
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 22.
Revision as of 23:56, 29 July 2020 by imported>Volume Importer
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Herbs, perennial, robust, spreading, sometimes scrambling in shrubs. Leaves: blade narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate-elliptic, 6–14 × 1–3.3 cm, apex acuminate. Inflorescences: distal cyme usually exserted, 1–3-flowered; proximal cyme 2–5-flowered; spathes pedunculate, falcate, 2.3–4 × 0.5–1.1 cm, apex acuminate; peduncles 1–2 (–4) cm. Flowers blue; medial stamen anther connective without dark band. Capsules 3-locular, 2-valved. Seeds typically only 1–2 developing, dark-brown, 2.1–2.8 mm, deeply reticulate. 2n = 90.


Phenology: Flowering spring–fall (perhaps all year round).
Habitat: Hammocks, streamsides, ditches, cypress swamps, wet woods, and lake shores

Discussion

Commelina diffusa is a very variable species throughout its vast range. I have not been able to match C. diffusa var. gigas with specific herbarium specimens from elsewhere. It probably arrived as an introduction instead of arising from diploid C. diffusa through in situ autopolyploidy.

Lower Taxa

None.
nearly +  and glabrous +
acuminate +
Robert B. Faden +
(Small) Faden +
Commelina gigas +
petiolate +  and sessile +
6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br /> (14 cm140 mm <br />0.14 m <br />) +
narrowly lanceolate;lanceolate-elliptic +
succulent +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (3.3 cm33 mm <br />0.033 m <br />) +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.63 cm6.3 mm <br />0.0063 m <br />) +
Fla. +  and Asia +
Hammocks, streamsides, ditches, cypress swamps, wet woods, and lake shores +
thyrsiform +  and cymose +
arranged +  and 2-ranked +
cauline +  and basal +
not glaucous +
ciliolate +, ciliate +, scabrous +  and glabrous +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
distinct +
unequal +
Flowering spring–fall (perhaps all year round). +
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden +
austin1985a +
0.28 cm2.8 mm <br />0.0028 m <br /> (0.32 cm3.2 mm <br />0.0032 m <br />) +
dark-brown +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.28 cm2.8 mm <br />0.0028 m <br />) +
0.21 cm2.1 mm <br />0.0021 m <br /> (0.28 cm2.8 mm <br />0.0028 m <br />) +
0.14 cm1.4 mm <br />0.0014 m <br /> (0.18 cm1.8 mm <br />0.0018 m <br />) +
distinct +
subequal +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (1.4 cm14 mm <br />0.014 m <br />) +
bright green +
2.3cm;4cm +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br />) +
Introduced +
staminodial +
some +  and fertile +
decumbent +  and scandent +
not +  and enlarged +
slender +
Commelina diffusa var. gigas +
Commelina diffusa +
variety +
herb +  and scrambling +