Commelina dianthifolia
Redouté
Commelinaceae
This species is very close to, and sometimes treated as no more than a var of Commelina tuberosa L.
Commelina angustifolia Kellogg
Commelina angustifolia Kunth
Commelina angustifolia Rchb.
Commelina caroliniana Kunth
Commelina debilis Kunth
Commelina graminifolia stricta (Desf.) C.B.Clarke
Commelina linearis Benth.
Commelina linearis longispatha Torr.
Commelina parviflora Link
Commelina puberula Kunth
Commelina rubens Kunth
Commelina stricta Desf.
Commelina tinctoria Nees
Commelina tuberosa dianthifolia (Redouté) D.R.Hunt
Common Name: Birdbill Dayflower
General Information
Commelina dianthifolia is a herbaceous perennial plant growing in spreading clumps with stems 30 - 60cm tall[
1981- Title
- Rio Mayo Plants - A study of the flora and vegetation of the valley of the Rio Mayo, Sonora
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
- Carnegie Institution of Washington; Washington DC
- Year
- 1942
- ISBN
-
- Description
- One of my favourite authors on native plants, often including their uses. This is an excellent example with lots of information, even though the book is 80 years old.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
270- Title
- Flora of N. America
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
Range
South-western N. America - Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, through Mexico to Guatemala.
Habitat
Rocky soils in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico[
270- Title
- Flora of N. America
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
]. Rock crevices of cliffs and rocky slopes in the Pine Forest.; at elevations from 1,350 - 1,800 metres[
1981- Title
- Rio Mayo Plants - A study of the flora and vegetation of the valley of the Rio Mayo, Sonora
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
- Carnegie Institution of Washington; Washington DC
- Year
- 1942
- ISBN
-
- Description
- One of my favourite authors on native plants, often including their uses. This is an excellent example with lots of information, even though the book is 80 years old.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.10 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Commelina dianthifolia is a moderately hardy plant, able to tolerate short periods with temperatures falling to around -10°c, especially if the roots are protected from freezing[
187- Title
- Perennials. Volumes 1 and 2.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
- Publisher
- Pan Books
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-330-30936-9
- Description
- Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
]. In cooloer climates it is probably best to dig up the roots in autumn and store them like dahlias in a cool frost free place[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. In milder regions of the temperate zone, if grown in a light well-drained soil and mulched well, the roots usually survive the winter outdoors[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
Prefers a light well-drained loam with added leafmold[
42- Title
- Hardy Bulbs.; Including Half-hardy Bulbs and Tuberous and Fiberous-rooted Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Grey. C. H.
- Publisher
- Williams & Norgate.
- Year
- 1938
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Rather dated now, but an immense work on bulbs for temperate zones and how to grow them. Three large volumes.
]. Succeeds in an ordinary, reasonably moist soil in a sunny position with some shelter[
164- Title
- Growing from Seed. Volume 4.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bird. R. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Thompson and Morgan.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
].
The flowers are very ephemeral, individual flowers only living for a few hours[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Edible Uses
The following use is for the closely related Commelina tuberosa, but is also probably appropriate for this species[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Tubers - cooked. Rich in starch[
105- Title
- Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
- Publisher
- Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
,
177- Title
- Plants for Human Consumption.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunkel. G.
- Publisher
- Koeltz Scientific Books
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 3874292169
- Description
- An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
], but with a fairly bland flavour.
Medicinal
An infusion of the plant is used as an aphrodisiac[
207- Title
- The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Coffey. T.
- Publisher
- Facts on File.
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 0-8160-2624-6
- Description
- A nice read, lots of information on plant uses.
] and as a strengthener for weakened patients with tuberculosis[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 4 - 5 weeks at 20°c[
164- Title
- Growing from Seed. Volume 4.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bird. R. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Thompson and Morgan.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
]. 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- Title
- Popular Hardy Perennials.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sanders. T. W.
- Publisher
- Collingridge
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.
,
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Cuttings during the growing season. Very easy[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
