Commelina subulata Roth

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Zovo Chipolo Trail, Nyika National Park

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Synonyms:	Commelina angustissima K. Schum. Commelina striata Kunth Commelina subaurantiaca Kunth Commelina subulata Roth var. macrosperma C.B. Clarke
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Short-lived annual herb, up to 25 cm. Young plants are erect and single-stemmed, becoming multi-stemmed later. Plants mostly glabrous, except for ciliate hairs on the margins of the spathe. Spathe folded, sharply recurved, 5-10 mm long. Flowers colour very variable, yellow, orange, apricot, pinkish or very rarely blue to violet.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	subulata: flat and narrow, tapering from the base to a sharp tip, subulate
Habitat:	In seepage zones, vlei margins and other seasonally wet areas.
Altitude range:	Up to 2300 m
Flowering time:	All year
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa, Yemen and India
Malawi distribution:	N,C,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Sunday 7 April 2019
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 10. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 121. Faden, R. (2012). Commelinaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 162 - 164. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 121. (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 156. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 86. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 108. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 117. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 70.

Other sources of information about Commelina subulata:

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Flora of Botswana: Commelina subulata
Flora of Burundi: Commelina subulata
Flora of Mozambique: Commelina subulata
Flora of Zambia: Commelina subulata
Flora of Zimbabwe: Commelina subulata

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Commelina subulata
African Plant Database: Commelina subulata
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Commelina subulata
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Commelina subulata
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Commelina subulata
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Commelina subulata
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Commelina subulata
JSTOR Plant Science: Commelina subulata
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Commelina subulata
Plants of the World Online: Commelina subulata
Tropicos: Commelina subulata
Wikipedia: Commelina subulata