Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_4229.JPG-07-04-2020
Flower name (scientific): Commelina communis Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) kom-uh-LIN-uh KOM-yoo-nis
Flower name (common): Asiatic Dayflower
Family name (common): Spiderwort
Family name (scientific): Commelinaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: Named to honor the Dutch botanists Caspar Commelijn (or Commelin) (1667/8 - 1731) and Jan (Johannes) Commelijn (1629 - 1692).
    Specific epithet: From the Latin for common, general, growing in clumps.
Common name origin: Refers to the native range of the plant and the duration of the bloom period of an individual flower.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.5 to 1.0 inches (1.3 to 2.5 cm)
     Petal count: 3
     Color: blue
     Other: flower arrangement, None
Plant description:
     Size: 12 to 36 inches (30 to 91 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple
     Size:
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, narrowly lanceolate to ovate-elliptic (FNA). Shape: leaf, narrowly lanceolate to ovate-elliptic (FNA)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon
Bloom time (typical): July to September
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual
Habitat: Streambanks, woodland margins, thickets, disturbed areas, roadsides, waste areas, semi-shade or shade, dry to moist.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): Commelina erecta (Slender Dayflower) is similar to Commelina communis. Commelina erecta is a species of special concern in Wisconsin, with a geographic distribution restricted to just two south-western counties in the state. Commelina erecta has stamens that are entirely yellow, leaves that are typically linear to lanceolate, 5 to 15 × 0.3 to 4 cm, and seed capsules that contain 3 seeds, whereas Commelina communis has stamens that often have a central maroon spot, leaves that are narrowly lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, 5 to 12 × 1 to 4 cm, and seed capsules that contain 4 seeds.
Ethnobotany:
Latitude:
Longitude:
Altitude:
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Brown, Buffalo, Crawford, Dane, Door, Eau Claire, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, Vernon, Walworth, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (ON, QC) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: Commelina communis var. communis (The other infraspecific is Commelina communis var. ludens (Miquel) C.B.Clarke which is introduced in nineteen US states.)
Wetland Status (NC): FAC
Wetland Status (MW): FACU