This plant is possibly no more than a narrow-leafed form of the highly variable Commelina erecta[]. Whilst some botanists recognise it as a variety of Commeina erecta, the Flora of North America does not accept varietal difference and merges it into the species[].

Common Name: Whitemouth Dayflower

General Information

Commelina erecta angustifolia is an erect or decumbent perennial plant with slender stems arising from a cluster of fleshy-fibrous roots[]. It can range in height from 40 - 120 cm tall[].
The plant is occasionally harvested from the wild for its edible root, and is often grown as an ornamental in gardens[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Southern N. America south through Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.

Habitat

Rocky woods and hillsides, scrub oak woods, pine woods and barrens, sand dunes, hummocks, shale barrens, roadsides, railroad rights-of-way, fields, occasionally a weed in cultivated ground[]. Found at elevations of 850 metres or lower in Guatemala[]

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.75 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Commelina erecta angustifolia can succeed in a wide range of climatic conditions, with its range extending from tropical America to the temperate regions of southern USA[]. The plant is not very winter hardy, however, and in temperate regions the roots are best dug up in the autumn and stored like dahlia tuberss in a cool frost free place and then planted out in spring[]. When grown in a light well-drained soil and mulched well, the roots will usually survive the winter outdoors in the milder regions of the temperate zone[].
Prefers a light well-drained loam with added leafmold[, ]. Succeeds in an ordinary, reasonably moist soil in a sunny position with some shelter[].
A polymorphic plant[].

Edible Uses

Tubers - cooked. Rich in starch[, , ], but with a fairly bland flavour.

Medicinal

Salve. The mucilaginous sap is used to ease skin irritations[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 4 - 5 weeks at 20°c[]. 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[, ].
Cuttings during the growing season. Very easy[].