Commelina benghalensis L.

English: Benghal Dayflower

Mandarin: 饭包草 (fan bao cao)

Kingdom: Plantae (2635)

  Phylum: Tracheophyta (2573)

    Class: Liliopsida (389)

      Order: Commelinales (21)

        Family: Commelinaceae (21)(family description)

          Genus: Commelina (5)

            Epithet: benghalensis L. (2)

Synonyms: Commelina acuminata R.Br., Commelina benghalensis Hochr., Commelina canescens Vahl, Commelina cavaleriei H.Lév., Commelina cucullata L., Commelina delicatula Schltdl., Commelina kilimandscharica K.Schum., Commelina mollis Jacq., Commelina nervosa Burm.f., Commelina obscura K.Schum., Commelina poligama Blanco, Commelina procurrens Schltdl., Commelina prostrata Regel, Commelina pyrrhoblepharis Hassk., Commelina radiciflora R.Br., Commelina rhizocarpa Afzel., Commelina rufociliata C.B.Clarke, Commelina saltiana Steud., Commelina senegalensis Ten., Commelina turbinata Vahl, Commelina uncata C.B.Clarke, Commelina villosiuscula Sol.

acuminata => long pointed

benghalensis => of or from Bengal, historical and geographical region covering Bangladesh and the state of West Bengal in India

canescens => greyish-white, hoary

kilimandscharica => from Mt. Kilimanjaro area of Tanzania

mollis => soft, tender, usually meaning pubescent like velvet

nervosa => with prominent nerves or veins

obscura => dark, black or indistinct

prostrata => lying flat on the ground

senegalensis => from the banks of the river Senegal in West-Africa

turbinata => shaped like a spinning top

Climate: tropical

Habitat: mesophytic

Habit: herb

Flower colour: violet

Check for Commelina benghalensis at

World Flora Online, GBIF or IPNI

• [899] Tropical Spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis L.), Identification and Control - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
• [931] Commelina benghalensis - Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)