Commelina dianthifolia Delile

by Jody Daline, Native Plants of Arizona 2004
Common names: birdbill dayflower (1,2)
Family: Commelinaceae (1,2)
Synonymy:
Etymology: The genus Commelina named for the three Commelijn brothers of Holland . Two were well-known botanists (represented by the 2 upper petals) and the third did nothing (represented by the third smaller petal). The specific epithet dianthifolia translates to “divine flower” (3)

 Identification
Growth Form: Herbaceous perennial (1,4)
Roots: thick, tuberous (3,4)
Stem: fine to medium textrured, up to 1 foot (4)
Leaves: green, narrow, up to 6 inches long and ¼ inch wide (2) somewhat succulent, alternate, grass-like (4)
Inflorescence/flowers: Blue, up to 1 inch wide,3 petals-lower petal smaller, boat-shaped bract beneath flower cluster. (2) Six yellow stamens (3 small, sterile and 3 large, fertile) (4)
Fruit: 3 seeded capsule (4)
Similar species: Commelina erecta is only other species in Arizona , it has 2 blue petals instead of 3, third petal is small and white (2)

 Ecology
Life history: Herbaceous perennial (1,4)
Native/introduced: native to continental North America (1,5)
Photosynthetic pathway:
Phenology: Flowers August to September. Flower opens early in the day and wilts by midday (2) The common name Dayflower refers to the fact the flower blooms early in the day and lasts only until midday before it recedes into the bract (3)
Distribution: Grows from 3,500 to 7,000 ft elevation, in pine woods and mixed conifer forests (2) Found in Colorado , Arizona , New Mexico , and Mexico (4)

 Uses
Cultivated ornamental (4)

References

1. USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 ( http://plants.usda.gov ). National Plant Data Center , Baton Rouge , Louisiana 70874-4490 USA .

2. Epple, A.O. 1995. A field guide to the plants of Arizona . Falcon Press Publishing Company. Helena , Montana .

3. Kirkpatrick, Z.M., 1992. Wildflowers of the western plains. University of Texas Press. Austin , TX .

4. Busco J. and Morin N.R. 2003. Native Plants for High Elevation Western Gardens . Fulcrum Publishing. Golden, Colorado . Published in partnership with the Arboretum at Flagstaff .

5. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) ( http://www.itis.usda.gov ).