Commelina diffusa: What a day for a dayflower
Common names can be a headache when one is trying to index a plant. The plant to the lower right is commonly known as the Asiatic Dayflower but it is not. It is also called just the Dayflower. More so there are native North American Dayflowers in a different genus. It can get rather confusing. On top of that many Commelinas are reported edible raw but I am beginning to think they should be cooked. They have a high oxalate content, less in young plants, more in older. Pick carefully.
Dayflower, edible blossoms, young shoots
Introduced from Asia to Florida, the little plant to the right is Commelina diffusa (kom-uh-LIN-uh dye-FEW-sah.) The Florida native is Commelina erecta. Another import is C. communis. How do you tell them apart? With the crawling difussa the three flower petals are almost almost the same size and blue. With the erecta and communis two blue petals are much larger than the white one. The erecta tends to stand up on its own, the communis crawls.
The Commelina species are often found in the same place as the spiderwort and young shoots and tips are good steamed, as a pot herb or boiled for a 20 minutes or so or fried. The blossoms are a trail side nibble for me or an addition to salads. Two have starchy roots that are edible cooked but are slimy, Commelina coelestis and Commelina benghalensis, the latter also has edible young tips when cooked and blossoms. In fact, other than blossoms I think any Commelina said to be edible raw is probably better off cooked and then only shoots or young tips. That’s what my tummy tells me. Oh, seeds of the Communis have been used as famine food.
Yellow Commelina Update: While conduction a class in Tampa in 2011 one of my students who has come to many classes, Maryann Pugliesi, spotted a Commelina with yellow blossoms, something I had never seen before. A bit of research showed it to be Commelina africana, or Yellow Commelina, and imported ground cover. Very common in South Africa it’s leaves are edible cooked and root. I suspect the blossoms are edible raw. On my next trip to Tampa I will find out.
Diffusa means spreading. Erecta means up right. Communis, wide-spread. The name Commelina was used in honor of three Dutch brothers of the Commelijn family, botanists all. One, however, died young and the Commelina communis was specifically named for them. Incidentally, the Commelinas are diuretic and have many herbal applications as well. Some yield a dye. Africana means from Africa. To read about spiderworts click here.
Green Deane’s “Itemized” Plant Profile
IDENTIFICATION: Erecta: grows up, two prominent sky-blue petals that stick out like mouse ears, third petal is tiny, white, below the blossom. Difussa, three blue petals close to the same size. Blossoms at the end of stems surrounded by heart-shaped leaf, rest of leaves three-inches long, narrow and pointed, with parallel veins along their length
TIME OF YEAR: Leaves and flowers year round in Florida, leaves all but winter up north, flowers spring and early summer
ENVIRONMENT: Grows in average, medium moisture, well-drained moist acidic soil, full sun to full shade. Tolerates poor soils. Lawns, roadsides, moist waste areas.
METHOD OF PREPARATION: I recommend you cook (boil or fry) the young greens of all the edible Commelina save for blossoms, shoots and young tips which can be tried raw in small amounts. Roots of the coelestris and benghalensis must be cooked.
Don’t confuse the Commelinas with a similar-looking escaped ornamental, Gibasis geniculata. It has all-white blossoms on very long stems and its leaves are purple on the back. Though called the Tahitian Bridal Veil it is from Tropical America.
Similar looking Tahitian Bridal Veil, Gibasis geniculata, is not edible
say i’ve got some white Commelinas in my backyard there definitely not Gibasis geniculata, it is identical to the diffusa (which is in my yard too) i think its just a mutant diffusa. have you ever seen any white ones before?
yes, they can turn up white now and then. It is usually a one season event. I’ve carried them home, planted them only to find them to come back true to from the next year.
I live in TX. We have another kind of commelina in our yard (it is definitely not Gibasis geniculata). It is has white flowers, broader leaves and the stems a little thicker. It’s not I am wondering if they are edible. I know that the Commelina diffusa are edible. I have collected alot that day, still in my fridge but am not sure if it is safe to eat. Please help. Thanks.
Tradescantias can be white for a season. You can click on “forum” and upload a picture of it there under “What is it?”
Is there any way to tell the difference between Gibasis geniculata leaves and Commelina leaves if there is no flower present? They look so similar to me.
G. geniculuata leaves are wider and longer but more importanlty G. geniculata tends to grow in shady wet areas. Commelinas like sunlight, such as your lawn or orange groves.
Hi, I’m interested in planting the asian dayflower. Does anyone know of a source of seeds? Thx, DD
Me
This is very much like its cousin in Australia Commelina cyanea. Also know as scurvy weed, as it saved some of the first settlers. I’m still trying to work out how to tell it apart from Trad if there are no flowers. Are there specific details I should be looking at to tell them apart?
Do you know f a source from which I can order Commelina–day flower? Thanks!
I read of your interest in the Asiatic Day flower and I grow it. I am in East TN and can mail you some seeds. I know it is hard to find , but found it wild.
I’ve been watching a 1500 Korean TV series called “A pearl in the palace”. A “purple dayflower” has been mentioned that is good for preventing diabetes. Has the name been changed? Where can I find it?
A purple relative of the Dayflower is Tradescantia pallida. It is generally considered toxic and can contact dermatitis in some people. If it has medicinal uses that is beyond my expertise.
Erecta or Difussa? Mine has dark-blue petals that stick out like mouse ears, third petal is tiny, white, below the blossom. The blossoms at the end of stems is surrounded by heart-shaped leaf, rest of leaves two inches long, narrow and pointed.
I picked up a bunch of leaves, washed them well, and then mixed them with slices of green, yellow, red, and orange bell peppers, and saute them with garlic, and olive oil for about 5 mintues to get rid of my fever. Somehow It cured the fever, but I felt like I was 17 years old down there… my wife had to sleep in a different room because I wouldn’t stop coming after her. The next day, I went to check online, and it causes vitality. I had so many in my backyard… It cured the fever and added libido of the strongest type. Guys… forget the blue pill.
I too would like to buy some commelina erecta (asiatic dayflower) seeds. I discovered some growing near my front stairs but when people repaired the stairs they disappeared. Then I found some across the street and I carefully took them and transplanted them, but I wish I hadn’t because they aren’t coming up now. I will watch for more and if I can find them I will treat them gently and try to harvest seeds. Meanwhile, I would like to find a source for seeds to replant around my stairway. The blooms are so blue, they are almost turquoise!