Murdannia

Herbs perennial. Roots fibrous, robust, 2--3 mm in diam., densely lanate. Rhizomes absent. Main stem undeveloped, short, with basal, rosulate leaves; fertile stems 2--4 arising from base of main stems, usually erect, sometimes ascending, to 50 cm. Basal leaves with sheath hirsute only on 1 side; blade linear, 15--35 × 0.6--1.5 cm, glabrous. Cauline leaves often 2 or 3, rarely more; proximal leaf blades to 12 cm, distal ones shorter, sometimes only ca. 10 mm, glabrous. Cincinni several, to 2 cm, forming narrow panicles ca. 5 cm; peduncle ca. 10 mm; involucral bracts ovate or ovate-lanceolate, less than 10 mm, membranous, caducous; bracts subequaling sepals, caducous; flowers pendulous in bud, ascending at anthesis; pedicels straight, ca. 5 mm in fruit. Sepals elliptic, 4--5 mm. Petals purple, obovate-orbicular. Fertile stamens 2; filaments bearded; staminodes 3; antherodes 3-sect. Capsule ovoid-globose, trigonous, 4--5 mm. Seeds 2 per valve, brown-black, white radiate verrucose. Fl. Apr--Sep.

Guangdong, Guangxi, SW Guizhou, S Hainan (Sanya), C and SW Sichuan, S and W Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam; E Africa].

Forests, marshes, humid grasslands; near sea level to 2700 m.

Commelina simplex Vahl, Enum. Pl. 2: 177. 1805; Aneilema sinicum Ker Gawler.

simplex: undivided, entire

Perennial herb, 30-60 cm. Leaves 3-4, mostly basal; lamina up to 20 × 1 cm, linear, glabrous, but ciliate towards the base; basal part sheathing. Inflorescence bearing scars of early flowers. Flowers opening in late afternoon. Petals 3, equal, obovate, c.10 mm. Stamens: 2 upper, fertile and curved downwards, the third sterile; filaments with long purple, beaded hairs. Staminodes 3 with glabrous filaments, the empty anthers yellow and 3-lobed. Capsule oblong-spherical, c.6 mm. Seeds oblong-spherical, 1.5 mm, the transverse ribs tuberculate, reticulate.

Frequent

Widespread in tropical Africa, South Africa and Madagascar. Also in tropical Asia but this may still prove to be a separate taxon.