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Useful Temperate Plants

Commelina dianthifolia

Redouté

Commelinaceae


This species is very close to, and sometimes treated as no more than a var of Commelina tuberosa L.

+ Synonyms

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

No Image.

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 *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.10 m
Cultivation StatusWild

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.
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-26. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Commelina+dianthifolia>

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