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Commelina communis - L.

Common Name Day Flower, Asiatic dayflower
Family Commelinaceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Partly shaded grassy places, cultivated fields and roadsides usually in moist places all over Japan[58, 147].
Range E. Asia - S. China, Japan, India.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Commelina communis Day Flower, Asiatic dayflower


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Commelina_communis_Blanco1.13.jpg
Commelina communis Day Flower, Asiatic dayflower
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Commelina communis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves  Shoots
Edible Uses:

Leaves, flowers and young shoots - raw or cooked[2, 105, 177]. Chopped finely and added to salads or cooked as a potherb[183]. A sweet taste with a mucilaginous texture[179].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antibacterial  Astringent  Depurative  Diuretic  Febrifuge

The leaves are depurative, diuretic and febrifuge[116, 147]. Used as a throat gargle to relieve sore throats and tonsilitis[116, 266]. A decoction of the dried plant is used to treat bleeding, diarrhoea, fever etc[218]. Extracts of the plant show antibacterial activity[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye

A bright blue dye is obtained from the petals[74].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a light well-drained loam with added leafmold[1, 42]. Requires a sheltered position[42]. This species is commonly cultivated as a vegetable in China[2]. The plant can be invasive[42], the stems sprawling along the ground and rooting as they go[K].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow March in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 4 - 5 weeks at 20°c[164]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring. Make sure that each portion has at least one growing bud[111, K]. Cuttings during the growing season. Very easy[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Asiatic Dayflower, Day Flower, A tor, Danzhuye, Duck's tongue plant, Gangi gadda, Kannang keeray, Miandazi, Rau trai, Spider wort, Thai lai trang, Yashecao, Zhuyecao,

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Native distribution includes East Asia and Southeast Asia including China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, the Russian Far East, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Within China it is found in all provinces except Qinghai, Hainan, Xinjiang, and Tibet. Introduced to Europe and eastern North America. Now found from Central Europe well into western Russia. Present in Ontario and Quebec in Canada, and in most of the eastern and central American states from Massachusetts and New York in the northeast, west to Minnesota and south through the Great Plains to Texas and east to extreme northern Florida in the United States.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

This plant can be weedy or invasive. Introduced to central and southeastern Europe and eastern North America where it has spread to become a noxious weed.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Commelina coelestisBlue Spider Wort, CommelinaPerennial0.5 8-11  LNDM20 
Commelina dianthifoliaBirdbill DayflowerPerennial0.1 6-9  LMSNDM21 
Commelina elliptica Perennial0.1 7-10  LMSNDM20 
Commelina erectaSlender Day-Flower, Whitemouth dayflowerPerennial1.2 8-11  LMSNDM20 
Commelina erecta angustifoliaWhitemouth DayflowerPerennial0.8 8-11  LMSNDM21 
Commelina tuberosaCommelinaPerennial0.1 7-10  LMSNDM20 
Commelina virginicaVirginia Day-FlowerAnnual/Perennial1.2 -  LMSNDM20 
Tradescantia virginianaSpiderwort, Virginia spiderwortPerennial0.4 4-9 MLMHSNDM21 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

58200266

Links / References

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