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Commelina benghalensis
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Family:
COMMELINACEAE
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Citation: Commelina benghalensis L., Sp. Pl. 41. 1753; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 370. 1892; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1539(1075). 1931; Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 419. 1984; Ramach. & V.J. Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 481. 1988; Antony, Syst. Stud. Fl. Kottayam Dist. 405. 1989; Babu, Fl. Malappuram Dist. 820. 1990; Vajr., Fl. Palghat Dist. 516. 1990; Subram., Fl. Thenmala Div. 395. 1995; Sasidh. et al., Bot. Stud. Med. Pl. Kerala 19. 1996; Sasidh. & Sivar., Fl. Pl. Thrissur For. 473. 1996; Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 297. 1982; Sivar. & Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 734. 1997; Sasidh., Fl. Periyar Tiger Reserve 460. 1998; Sasidh., Fl. Parambikulam WLS 356. 2002; Anil Kumar et al., Fl. Pathanamthitta 511. 2005; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 702. 2009; Ratheesh Narayanan, Fl. Stud. Wayanad Dist. 886. 2009.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Adukkavettila, Kanavazhai, Vuzhaipadathi, Vazhaplaachi
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
Dayflower
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Description:
Diffuse herbs, rooting at lower nodes; rootstock with cleistogamous flowers. Leaves 3-5 x 2-3.5 cm, ovate or elliptic-ovate, base rounded or subtruncate, apex obtuse or acute, pubescent, margin ciliate; petiole to 8 mm long; sheath to 1.5 cm long, apex with rufous hairs. Spathe 1.5 cm across, funnel-shaped, truncate at apex, pubescent. Septemberals subequal, c. 2.5 mm long; outer ones linear; inner ones orbicular. Petals blue, larger ones c. 4 x 4.5 mm, broadly ovate. Stamens 3; staminodes 2. Ovary to 1mm long. Capsule to 5 mm long, ellipsoid, 3-celled; seeds 5, pitted.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
July-November
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District(s):
All Districts
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Medicinal:
Yes
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Habitat:
Wastelands, also in deciduous forests
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Distribution:
Africa, India, China, Japan and Malesia
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
Blue
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Monocotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
No
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
Vazhachal, Thannikkudy, Thekkady, Thunakkadavu, Moozhiar, Muzhapplangad, Olavakkot, Alleppey town, Vadapuram, Thenmalai, Ariankavu, Elderslide Estate
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