Commelina diffusa var. diffusa
Herbs, annual (sometimes perennial in south), diffusely spreading, rooting at nodes. Leaves: blade lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, lanceolate-elliptic or ovate, 1.5–5 (–8) cm, 0.5–1.8 (–2.2) cm, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences: proximal cyme 2–4-flowered, distal cyme of larger spathes usually exserted, 1–several-flowered; spathes solitary, pedunculate, usually distinctly falcate, (0.5–) 0.8–2.5 (–3.7) × 0.4–1.2 (–1.4) cm, apex usually acuminate; peduncles 0.5–2 (–2.9) cm. Flowers blue (rarely lavender); medial stamen anther connective with broad, transverse band of violet. Capsules 3-locular, 2-valved, 4–6.3 × (2.1–) 3–4 mm. Seeds 5, brown, 2–2.8 (–3.2) mm × 1.4–1.8 mm, deeply reticulate. 2n = 30.
Phenology: Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat: Disturbed situations (lawns, gardens, and cultivated ground), moist places, and woods
Distribution
Introduced; Ala., Ark., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.C., Ohio, Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., pantropical
Discussion
The report of this plant from Minnesota (H. A. Gleason and A. Cronquist 1991) is probably based on wrongly determined material.
Selected References
None.