Commelina polhillii

Commelina polhillii is a plant species native to Tanzania, known only from the Iriniga and Mpanda Districts. It occurs in open woodlands and in disturbed sites.[1][2]

Commelina polhillii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Commelinales
Family: Commelinaceae
Genus: Commelina
Species:
C. polhillii
Binomial name
Commelina polhillii
Faden & M.H. Alford

Commelina polhillii is an annual herb with ascendent(=reclining for a while then turning upward) to decumbent (=trailing) stems up to 75 cm long. Stems are flattened on one side, sometimes maroon or with maroon stripes. Leaves are narrowly lanceolate, tapering at the tip, up to 12 cm long, sometimes with cilia (=long soft hairs) along the margins. Spathes are solitary, each with 3 or 4 flowers. Sepals are translucent. Petals are buff-orange, kidney-shaped, broader than long, up to 4 mm across. Seeds are rather unusual for the genus: spherical to elliptical with a crater-shaped pit on one side, with a small raised conical point in the middle of the pit.[1][3][4]

References
  1. Faden, Robert Bruce & Alford, Mac H. 2001. A new species of Commelina (Commelinaceae) from Tanzania. Novon 11:16-21.
  2. Tropicos
  3. Faden, R.B. 1994. New species of Commelina from the flora of Tropical East Africa. Novon 4:224-235.
  4. Smithsonian Institution, Digital Public Library of America
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