Commelina communis

<strong>Commelina</strong> <strong>communis</strong><br />

<strong>Commelina</strong> <strong>communis</strong><br />

Asiatic dayflower<br />

Introduction<br />

The genus <strong>Commelina</strong> has approximately<br />

100 species worldwide, distributed<br />

primarily in tropical and temperate<br />

regions. Eight species occur in<br />

China [60][167] .<br />

Species of <strong>Commelina</strong> in<br />

China<br />

Scientific Name<br />

Scientific Name<br />

C. auriculata Bl. C. maculata Edgew.<br />

C. bengalensis L. C. paludosa Bl.<br />

C. <strong>communis</strong> L. C. suffruticosa Bl.<br />

C. diffusa Burm. f. C. undulata R. Br.<br />

Taxonomy<br />

Family: <strong>Commelina</strong>ceae<br />

Genus: <strong>Commelina</strong> L.<br />

Description<br />

<strong>Commelina</strong> <strong>communis</strong> is an annual<br />

herb with numerous branched, creeping<br />

stems, which are minutely pubescent<br />

distally, 1 m long. Leaves are lanceolate<br />

to ovate-lanceolate, 3–9 cm long and<br />

1.5–2 cm wide. Involucral bracts<br />

grow opposite the leaves. Bracts are<br />

1.2–2.5 cm long, folded and cordate<br />

when unfolded, with 1.5–4 cm long<br />

stalk, often hirsute-ciliate marginally,<br />

and acute apically. Cyme inflorescence<br />

has one flower near the top, with dark<br />

blue petals and membranous sepals 5<br />

mm long. Capsules are elliptic, 5–7<br />

mm, and two-valved. The two seeds<br />

in each valve are brown-yellow, 2–3<br />

mm long, irregularly pitted, flat-sided,<br />

and truncate at one end [60][167] .<br />

Habitat<br />

C. <strong>communis</strong> prefers moist, shady forest<br />

edges. It is common in wet areas of<br />

crop fields, orchards, ditches, and<br />

Flower of <strong>Commelina</strong> <strong>communis</strong>. (Photo provided<br />

by LBJWC, Albert, F. W. Frick, Jr.)<br />

roadsides [60] .<br />

Distribution<br />

C. <strong>communis</strong> is widely distributed in<br />

China, [60] but no records are reported<br />

for its distribution in Qinghai, Xinjiang,<br />

Hainan, and Tibet [6][116][167] .<br />

Economic Importance<br />

<strong>Commelina</strong> <strong>communis</strong> has caused serious<br />

damage in the orchards of northeastern<br />

China [96] . C. <strong>communis</strong> is used in Chinese<br />

herbal medicine. [60] .<br />

Related Species<br />

C. diffusa occurs in forests, thickets<br />

and moist areas of southern China and<br />

can be distinguished from C. <strong>communis</strong><br />

by its lanceolate bracts and acuminate<br />

apex [60] .<br />

Natural Enemies of <strong>Commelina</strong><br />

Ten fungi have been found on members<br />

of the genus <strong>Commelina</strong>, four of<br />

which can infect Asiatic dayflower.<br />

Kordyana commelinae and Phyllosticta<br />

commelinicola are recorded to be host<br />

specific to C. <strong>communis</strong>. There are 12<br />

arthropod species contained in four orders<br />

and six families that are associated with<br />

C. <strong>communis</strong>.<br />

56 — Invasive Plants of Asian Origin Established in the US and Their Natural Enemies

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<strong>Commelina</strong> <strong>communis</strong><br />

Fungi<br />

Phylum Family Species H. R. Ref.<br />

Ascomycota<br />

Basidiomycota<br />

Hyponectriaceae Physalospora commelinae Sawada mo 23<br />

Sclerotiniaceae Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary po 23<br />

Atheliaceae Athelia rolfsii (Curzi) C.C. Tu & Kimbr. po 23 †<br />

Brachybasidiaceae Kordyana commelinae Sawada m 23<br />

Ceratobasidiaceae Thanatephorus cucumeris (A.B. Frank) Donk po 23 ‡<br />

Phakopsoraceae Phakopsora tecta H.S. Jacks. & Holw. oo 23<br />

Pucciniaceae<br />

Ustilaginaceae<br />

Puccinia adhikarii Ono po 149<br />

Uromyces commelinae Cooke p 23<br />

Ustilago commelinae (Kom.) Zundel<br />

mo 23<br />

m 54<br />

Anamorphic Guignardia Phyllosticta commelinicola E. Young m 195<br />

†<br />

Recorded as Corticium centrifugum (Lév.) Bres.<br />

‡<br />

Recorded as Corticium sasakii (Shirai) Matsum.<br />

Arthropods<br />

Order Family Species H. R. Ref.<br />

mo 65<br />

Lema chujoi Gressitt et Kimoto<br />

mo 139<br />

p 65<br />

Lema concinnipennis Baly<br />

p 139<br />

Lema coromandeliana (Fabricius) mo 139<br />

p 65<br />

Crioceridae<br />

Lema coronata Baly<br />

p 139<br />

Coleoptera<br />

m 65<br />

Lema delicatula Baly<br />

m 139<br />

p 65<br />

Lema diversa Baly<br />

p 139<br />

Lema scutellaris (Kraatz) m 139<br />

Eumolpidae Acrothinium gaschkevitschii (Motschulsky) p 139<br />

Hispidae Cassida piperata Hope po 140<br />

Hemiptera Pentatomidae Aeschrocoris ceylonicus Distant m 65<br />

m 65<br />

Homoptera Aphididae Aphis commelinae Shinji<br />

m 100<br />

po 206<br />

Lepidoptera Sphingidae Rhyncholaba acteus (Cramer)<br />

p 208<br />

Invasive Plants of Asian Origin Established in the US and Their Natural Enemies — 57