Family: Commelinaceae
Author: Burm.f.
Bibliography: Fl. Indica: 18 (1768)
Year: 1768
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Commelina
Vegetable: Unknown
Observations: Trop. & Subtrop. Old World
Description
The Climbing dayflower, scientifically known as Commelina diffusa, is a noteworthy member of the Commelinaceae family. First documented in 1768, this plant was described in the notable work “Flora Indica,” authored by Nicolaas Laurens Burman, often referenced as Burm.f.
Native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, the Climbing dayflower is easily identified by its sprawling habit and appealing blue flowers. Its branches, which can climb or trail along the ground, make it a versatile plant in various ecological niches, from open fields to forest edges.
This species is not just an aesthetically appealing plant but also showcases remarkable adaptability, thriving in diverse environmental conditions. Its lush green leaves provide a striking contrast to its delicate bluish hues, creating an attractive display that is often appreciated in both wild and cultivated settings.
Whether observed in its natural habitat or as part of a garden collection, the Climbing dayflower remains an enduring symbol of nature’s beauty and resilience.
Common Names
Eng: climbing dayflower, creeping-spiderwort, spreading dayflower, creeping spiderwort, birdbill dayflower, creeping day flower
Por: capoeraba, marianinha, mata-brasil
Spa: erva-menina
En: Climbing dayflower, Spreading dayflower, Birdbill Dayflower, Creeping Day Flower, Common dayflower, Creeping-spiderwort, Creeping Spiderwort, Water grass, French weed
Ar: وعلان منتشر
Fi: Mattosoljo
Fr: Curage, Herbe grasse
Ml: വാഴപ്പടത്തി
Pt: Capoeraba, Marianinha, Mata-brasil
Es: Cohitre, Cohitre azul, Cojitre, Erva-menina
Th: ผักปลาบนา
Synonyms
Distribution
- Andaman Is. (native)
- Angola (native)
- Assam (native)
- Bangladesh (native)
- Benin (native)
- Bismarck Archipelago (native)
- Botswana (native)
- Burkina (native)
- Burundi (native)
- Cambodia (native)
- Cameroon (native)
- Cape Provinces (native)
- Cape Verde (native)
- Central African Repu (native)
- Chad (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Comoros (native)
- Congo (native)
- East Himalaya (native)
- Equatorial Guinea (native)
- Ethiopia (native)
- Fiji (native)
- Gabon (native)
- Gambia (native)
- Ghana (native)
- Guinea (native)
- Guinea-Bissau (native)
- Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
- Hainan (native)
- India (native)
- Ivory Coast (native)
- Japan (native)
- Jawa (native)
- Kenya (native)
- Korea (native)
- KwaZulu-Natal (native)
- Laos (native)
- Leeward Is. (native)
- Liberia (native)
- Madagascar (native)
- Malawi (native)
- Malaya (native)
- Mali (native)
- Marquesas (native)
- Mauritius (native)
- Mozambique (native)
- Myanmar (native)
- Namibia (native)
- Nansei-shoto (native)
- Nepal (native)
- New Guinea (native)
- Nicobar Is. (native)
- Niger (native)
- Nigeria (native)
- Niue (native)
- Northern Provinces (native)
- Philippines (native)
- Pitcairn Is. (native)
- Rwanda (native)
- Senegal (native)
- Seychelles (native)
- South China Sea (native)
- Sri Lanka (native)
- Sudan (native)
- Swaziland (native)
- Taiwan (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Thailand (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Togo (native)
- Tonga (native)
- Tuamotu (native)
- Tubuai Is. (native)
- Uganda (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- Wallis-Futuna Is. (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- Yemen (native)
- Zambia (native)
- Zaïre (native)
- Zimbabwe (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Argentina Northwest (introduced)
- Arkansas (introduced)
- Ascension (introduced)
- Bahamas (introduced)
- Belize (introduced)
- Bermuda (introduced)
- Bolivia (introduced)
- Brazil North (introduced)
- Brazil Northeast (introduced)
- Brazil South (introduced)
- Brazil Southeast (introduced)
- Brazil West-Central (introduced)
- Canary Is. (introduced)
- Caroline Is. (introduced)
- Central American Pac (introduced)
- Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
- Colombia (introduced)
- Cook Is. (introduced)
- Costa Rica (introduced)
- Cuba (introduced)
- Delaware (introduced)
- District of Columbia (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- Easter Is. (introduced)
- Ecuador (introduced)
- El Salvador (introduced)
- Florida (introduced)
- French Guiana (introduced)
- Galápagos (introduced)
- Georgia (introduced)
- Guatemala (introduced)
- Guyana (introduced)
- Haiti (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Honduras (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- Indiana (introduced)
- Jamaica (introduced)
- Kansas (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
- Louisiana (introduced)
- Madeira (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Mexico Central (introduced)
- Mexico Gulf (introduced)
- Mexico Northeast (introduced)
- Mexico Northwest (introduced)
- Mexico Southeast (introduced)
- Mexico Southwest (introduced)
- Mississippi (introduced)
- Missouri (introduced)
- New Caledonia (introduced)
- New Jersey (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- Nicaragua (introduced)
- North Carolina (introduced)
- Ohio (introduced)
- Oklahoma (introduced)
- Panamá (introduced)
- Paraguay (introduced)
- Pennsylvania (introduced)
- Peru (introduced)
- Puerto Rico (introduced)
- Society Is. (introduced)
- South Carolina (introduced)
- St.Helena (introduced)
- Suriname (introduced)
- Tennessee (introduced)
- Texas (introduced)
- Tokelau-Manihiki (introduced)
- Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
- Venezuela (introduced)
- Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
- Vermont (introduced)
- Virginia (introduced)
- West Virginia (introduced)
- Windward Is. (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Aug 30, 2022 by ivona bradley (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 21, 2022 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 11, 2017 by Alonso Ortiz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 7, 2022 by Raymond Hare (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 2, 2021 by Lokhesh Anbalagan (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jul 1, 2020 by Зобенко Андрей (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 23, 2022 by Dr SAURABH SACHAN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 2, 2022 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 14, 2021 by Shafa Latifa Shafa Maura Selohadi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 7, 2016 by Joziel Pereira da Silva (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Jan 2, 2022 by Tumpa Tumpa (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 15, 2020 by Ikhsan Rakhmat Harahap (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 4, 2022 by Desiree De Luca (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 8, 2022 by Manuela Correa Rios (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 7, 2021 by Laxman Nimbale (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Bark
Taken Jun 30, 2019 by Vinicius Saragiotto (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 15, 2021 by Alexandre Andrade (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 26, 2017 by vini (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 28, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 19, 2020 by Andino Carlos (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Nov 3, 2020 by jessa ocon (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 28, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 25, 2021 by J Howard (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 11, 2020 by r. Unter (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:172020-1)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2764202)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Commelina diffusa Burm.f.)