Commelina erecta L.

Slender Dayflower; White Mouth Dayflower; Erect Dayflower

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Slender Dayflower is a native herbaceous perennial in the Spiderwort family (Commelinaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Slender Dayflower occurs in sandhills, on dunes, in dry or rocky forests, in pine woods, and on roadsides. It is a perennial from thick, fleshy roots. Stems are 1-several from a rootstock, erect or ascending, somewhat succulent, and not rooting at the nodes. Stems are green or tan in color. The stems are often branched. Leaves are alternate, sessile with the pubescent leaf sheath enclosing the stem, and linear to lanceolate in outline. The upper margin of the leaf sheath has a fringe of long hairs. Flowers are produced in a 2-3 flowered cyme enclosed by a spathe. The margins of the spathe are fused basally for about 1/3 -1/2 the length of the spathe. Each flower has 1 minute white petal and 2 large blue petals. Each flower has 3 staminodes (rudimentary, sterile or abortive stamens which do not produce pollen) and 3 stamens. The flowers open in before sunrise and usually wither before mid-day, especially when it is hot. The fruit is a capsule with 3 seed. The seeds of Slender Dayflower are eaten by the Bobwhite Quail and Mourning Doves, and the foliage is browsed by White-Tailed Deer, rabbits, and Gopher Tortoises.--A. Diamond

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Native

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