Commelina africana L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Magorogodo hills, Zomba Community

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Mucandue stream crossing, eastern Chimanimani Mts.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Ridge on Mt Shangani, eastern Chimanimani Mts.

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Synonyms:
Common names:	Wandering jew (English) Yellow commelina (English)
Frequency:	Common
Status:	Native
Description:	Spreading, prostrate perennial herb. A very variable species, many varieties have been described at times. Flowers pale to bright yellow, borne from a boat-shaped bract, 1-3 at the time, each flower only lasting through the morning before disintegrating.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	africana: African
Habitat:	Widespread in woodland, grassland and disturbed places.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Nov - Apr
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in Africa, Yemen and Madagascar. Naturalized in Australia.
Mozambique distribution:	N,Z,T,MS,GI,M
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Saturday 30 April 2016
Literature:	Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 242 - 243. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 294. under various subtaxa Chapano, C., Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 9. As Commelina africana africana, C. africana krebsiana and C. africana lancispatha Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 231. as Commelina africana barberae (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 154. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 86. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 117. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 70. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 82. As var. africana and var. krebsiana

Other sources of information about Commelina africana:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Commelina africana
Flora of Caprivi: Commelina africana
Flora of Malawi: Commelina africana
Flora of Zambia: Commelina africana
Flora of Zimbabwe: Commelina africana

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Commelina africana
African Plant Database: Commelina africana
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Commelina africana
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Commelina africana
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Commelina africana
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Commelina africana
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Commelina africana
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Commelina africana
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network): Commelina africana
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Commelina africana
JSTOR Plant Science: Commelina africana
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Commelina africana
Kew Monocotyledon checklist: Commelina africana
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Commelina africana
The Plant List (version 1.1): Commelina africana
Tropicos: Commelina africana