Commelinaceae
Commelina

Commelina africana L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 41 (1753)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Africa, Arabian Peninsula. It is a perennial or subshrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Distribution

Native to:

Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Provinces, Cape Verde, Caprivi Strip, Central African Repu, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Free State, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Ivory Coast, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Rwanda, Réunion, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Introduced into:

India

Synonyms

Homotypic Synonyms

Accepted Infraspecifics

Classification

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Publications

POWO follows these authorities in accepting this name:

  • Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
  • Boulos, L. (2005). Flora of Egypt 4: 1-617. Al Hadara Publishing, Cairo.
  • Boulvert, Y. (1977). Catalogue de la Flore de Centrafrique 2(2): 1-94. ORSTOM, Bangui.
  • Brunel, J.F., Hiepo, P. & Scholz, H. (eds.) (1984). Flore Analytique du Togo Phanérogames: 1-751. GTZ, Eschborn.
  • Cabezas, F.J., de la Estrella, M., Aedo, C. & Velayos, M. (2009). Checklist of Commelinaceae of Equatorial Guinea (Annobón, Bioko and Río Mundi). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 159: 106-122.
  • Dobignard, D. & Chatelain, C. (2010). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 1: 1-455. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.
  • Faden, R. (2012). Commelinaceae. Flora of Tropical East Africa: 1-244.
  • Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola. Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Fischer, E., Rembold, K., Althof, A. & Obholzer, J. (2010). Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Kakamega forest, Western province, Kenya. Journal of East African Natural History 99: 129-226.
  • Gosline, G., Bidault, E., van der Burgt, X., Cahen, D., Challen, G., Condé, N., Couch, C., Couvreur, T.L.P., Dagallier, L.M.J., Darbyshire, I., Dawson, S., Doré, T.S., Goyder, D., Grall, A., Haba, P., Haba, P., Harris, D., Hind, D.J.N., Jongkind, & al. (2023). A Taxonomically-verified and Vouchered Checklist of the Vascular Plants of the Republic of Guinea. Nature, scientific data 10, Article number: 327: [1]-[12].
  • Govaerts, R. (1999). World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b): 1-1532. MIM, Deurne.
  • Lejoy, J., Ndjele, M.-B. & Geerinck, D. (2010). Catalogue-flore des plantes vasculaires des districts de Kisangani et de la Tshopo (RD Congo). Taxonomania. Revue de Taxonomie et de Nomenclature Botaniques 30: 1-307.
  • Lisowski, S. (2009). Flore (Angiospermes) de la République de Guinée. Scripta Botanica Belgica 41: 1-517.
  • Sita, P. & Moutsambote, J.-M. (2005). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Congo, ed. sept. 2005: 1-158. ORSTOM, Centre de Brazzaville.
  • Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mt. Mulanje, Malawi. Scripta Botanica Belgica 34: 1-199.
  • Thiombiano, A., Schmidt, M., Dressler, S., Ouédraogo, A., Hahn, K. & Zizka, G. (2012). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Burkina Faso. Boissiera 65: 1-391.

Flora of West Tropical Africa

  • Brenan in Mitteil. Bot. Staatssamml. München 5: 199-203 (1964).
  • C. B. Cl. in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 164 (1881)
  • F.T.A. 8: 45
  • J. K. Morton in J. Linn. Soc. 55: 515, fig. 11 (1956)
  • J. K. Morton in J. Linn. Soc. 60: 174 (1967)
  • Sp. Pl. 1: 41 (1753)

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
  • Barthelat, F. (2019). La flore illustrée de Mayotte: 1-687. Biotope éditions.
  • Boulvert, Y. (1977). Catalogue de la Flore de Centrafrique 2(2): 1-94. ORSTOM, Bangui.
  • Brunel, J.F., Hiepo, P. & Scholz, H. (eds.) (1984). Flore Analytique du Togo Phanérogames: 1-751. GTZ, Eschborn.
  • Lisowski, S. (2009). Flore (Angiospermes) de la République de Guinée. Scripta Botanica Belgica 41: 1-517.
  • Sita, P. & Moutsambote, J.-M. (2005). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Congo, ed. sept. 2005: 1-158. ORSTOM, Centre de Brazzaville.
  • Thiombiano, A., Schmidt, M., Dressler, S., Ouédraogo, A., Hahn, K. & Zizka, G. (2012). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Burkina Faso. Boissiera 65: 1-391.

Flora of Somalia

  • Flora Somalia, Vol 4, (1995) Author: by R. B. Faden [updated by M. Thulin 2008]

Other Data

Other Kew resources that provide information on this taxon:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
Mar 1, 2017 Richards, H.M. [14386] Malawi K000743551 Holotype Yes
Mar 1, 2017 Fanshawe, D.B. [1823] Zambia K000743553 Type Yes
Mar 1, 2017 Fanshawe, D.B. [1823] Zambia K000743552 Type Yes
Jan 1, 2004 Pollard, B.J. [681] Cameroon K000746176 Yes
Aug 1, 1998 Buzgo, M. [671] Cameroon K000746718 Yes
Aug 1, 1998 Cheek, M. [8673 a] Cameroon K000746720 Yes
Aug 1, 1998 Cable, S. [3037] Cameroon K000746719 Yes
Jan 1, 1993 Tchouto (Mbatchou), P. [286] Cameroon K000011070 Yes
Jan 1, 1965 Burchell, W., J. [1988] South Africa K000345663 Unknown Type Material Yes
Jan 1, 1965 Burchell, W., J. [1999] South Africa K000345661 Type Yes
Jan 1, 1965 Burchell, W., J. [1999] South Africa K000345662 Unknown Type Material Yes
Jan 1, 1965 Bowker, J.H. [12] South Africa K000345659 Unknown Type Material Yes
Jan 1, 1965 South Africa K000345660 Holotype Yes
Oct 12, 1964 Mann, G. [2136] Cameroon K000307697 Type Yes
Herbert, E.J. [85] Ethiopia K003072536 Yes
Petit [s.n.] Ethiopia K003072524 Yes
Harris, T. [383] Mozambique K000613819 Yes
Friis, I.; Bidgood, G.S.; Wondefrash, M.; Ermias Getachew [10460] Ethiopia K003072533 Yes
Ogwal, E.N. [113] Uganda K003073197 Yes
Sebald, O. [2466] Ethiopia K003072531 Yes
Moore, A. [15] Tanzania K003073230 Yes
Haarer, A.E. [1761] Tanzania K003073232 Yes
Burger, W.; Getahun, A. [306] Ethiopia K003072538 Yes
Kokwaro, J.O.; Mathenge, S.G. [2861] Kenya K003073208 Yes
Richards, H.M. [8559] Tanzania K003073247 Yes
Hepper, F.N.; Jaeger, P.M.L. [6869] Kenya K003073205 Yes
Ogwal, E.N. [136] Uganda K003073187 Yes
Chancellor, R.J. [51] Uganda K:SPC-02180.000 No
Ogwal, E.N. [106] Uganda K003073193 Yes
Thulin, M.; Dahir, A.; Hassan, A. [9132] Somalia K003072539 Yes
Wesche, K. [1330] Kenya K003073214 Yes
Chancellor, R.J. [51] Uganda K003073192 Yes
Aweke, G.; Gilbert, M.G. [937] Ethiopia K003072526 Yes
Gilbert, E.F. [147] Ethiopia K003072527 Yes
Bytebier, B. et al. [154] Kenya K003073206 Yes
s.coll. [6388] Kenya K003073223 Yes
Ironside Wood, J.R. [S/73/114] Somalia K003072541 Yes
Dummer, R.A. [5122] Kenya K003073210 Yes
Williams, G.R. [202] Kenya K003073212 Yes
Nana Felicite; Nukam; Shah; Surgenor; Atem; Darbyshire [118] Cameroon K001418547 Yes
Etuge, M. [5381] Cameroon K000875954 Yes
Ciferri, R. [88] Somalia K000345567 Type Yes
Pettet [166] Sudan K003072514 Yes
Richards, H.M. [11863] Tanzania K003073246 Yes
Archbold, N.E. [968] Tanzania K003073236 Yes
Kalema, J. [JK1911] Uganda K003073185 Yes
Faden, R.B. [67/218] Kenya K003073219 Yes
Faulkner, H.G. [1075] Tanzania K003073244 Yes
Mwangangi, O.M.; Mukenya, A. [1587] Kenya K003073216 Yes
Cheek, M. [10906] Cameroon K000875826 Yes
Schweinfurth, G. [3797] K003072517 Yes
Dawkins, H.C. [426] Uganda K:SPC-02178.000 No
Kerfoot, O. [4937] Uganda K003073191 Yes
Morton, J.K. [1101] Cameroon K000541678 Yes
Verdcourt, B. [217] Tanzania K:SPC-02177.000 No
Tanner, R. [4534] Tanzania K003073231 Yes
Maffey [23] Sudan K003072515 Yes
Faulkner, H.G. [1101] Tanzania K003073241 Yes
Harger, R. [31] Kenya K003073211 Yes
Tweedie [1392] Kenya K:SPC-04544.000 No
Rose, F. [10088] Uganda K003073204 Yes
Gilbert, M. [1161] Ethiopia K003072528 Yes
Faulkner, H.G. [1158] Tanzania K003073243 Yes
Todd, H. [41] Cameroon K001480238 Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] K003073253 Yes
Bally, P.R.O. [10760] Uganda K003073190 Yes
Collenette, C.L. [298] Somalia K003072542 Yes
Francisco, M.; Rafael, M.; Camôngua, J. [FM1444] Angola K001634787 Yes
Gilbert, M.G.; Mesfin Tadese [6788] Kenya K003073207 Yes
Davis, D. [31A] Kenya K003073226 Yes
Symes, Y.E. [419] Uganda K003073202 Yes
Wood, G.H.S. [718] Uganda K003073201 Yes
Faden, R.B.; Evans, A.W. [70/107] Kenya K003073218 Yes
Faulkner, H. [1075] Tanzania K:SPC-12961.000 No
Kisena [815] Tanzania K003073242 Yes
Morton, J.K. [844] Cameroon K000541679 Yes
Jackson, J.K. [J2897] Sudan K003072516 Yes
Ogwal, E.N. [s.n.] Uganda K003073199 Yes
Friis, I.; Lawesson, J. [5323] Ethiopia K003072525 Yes
Symes, Y.E. [485] Uganda K003073203 Yes
Mooney, H.F. [6679] Ethiopia K003072521 Yes
Milne-Redhead, E.; Taylor, P. [7759] Tanzania K:SPC-02184.000 No
Wendelberger [210/1978] Tanzania K003073240 Yes
Eba, T. [207] Ethiopia K003072522 Yes
Jannerup; Mhoro [0351] Tanzania K003073248 Yes
Harris, T. [196] Mozambique K000613271 No
Bally, P.R.O. [199] Kenya K003073224 Yes
Ogwal, E.N. [103] Uganda K003073194 Yes
Schweinfurth, G.; Riva, D. [1608] Ethiopia K003072519 Yes
Ogwal, E.N. [s.n.] Uganda K003073200 Yes
Bax, R.D. [N.] Tanzania K:SPC-02179.000 No
Thomas, D.W. [9411] Cameroon K000011667 Yes
Archbold, N.E. [441] Tanzania K003073245 Yes
Angus, A. [5986] Uganda K003073196 Yes
Schweinfurth, G.; Riva, D. [1701] Ethiopia K003072529 Yes
Frame, G.W. [P19] Tanzania K003073237 Yes
Schlieben, H.J. [737] Tanzania K003073249 Yes
Geilinger [3576] Tanzania K003073233 Yes
Dummer, R.A. [1951] Kenya K003073220 Yes
Deleyser, E.A. [122] Tanzania K003073251 Yes
Grimshaw, J.M. [JMG94163] Tanzania K003073239 Yes
Maas Geesteranus, R.A. [4927b] Kenya K003073227 Yes
Schweinfurth, G. [3739] K003072518 Yes
Chancellor, R. [277] Uganda K003073189 Yes
Wilson, J. [2074] Uganda K003073186 Yes
Gilbert Rogers, C. [217] Kenya K003073222 Yes
Kerfoot, O. [619] Kenya K003073221 Yes
Ebba, T. [207] Ethiopia K003072523 Yes
Bax, R.D. [M.] Tanzania K:SPC-02183.000 No
Tanner, R. [4656] Tanzania K003073229 Yes
Maas Geesteranus, R.A. [5192] Kenya K003073225 Yes
Ryding, O. [1288] Ethiopia K003072520 Yes
Kalema, J. [JK1938] Uganda K003073184 Yes
Greenway, P.J.; Kanuri [13286] Tanzania K003073238 Yes
Chancellor, R.J. [277] Uganda K003073188 Yes
Baldwin, J.T. [13097] Liberia K:SPC-25630.000 No
Wiltshire, F.M. [3B] Kenya K003073209 Yes
Gillett, J.B.; Mathew, B.F. [19114] Kenya K003073217 Yes
Gilbert, E.F. [485A] Ethiopia K003072537 Yes
Hepper, F.N. [2149] Cameroon K:SPC-01278.000 No
Brodhurst-Hill [292] Kenya K003073213 Yes
Papov, G. [1303] Somalia K003072540 Yes
Sebald, O. [2269] Ethiopia K003072530 Yes
Lind, E. [460] Uganda K:SPC-04543.000 No
Haarer, A.E. [949] Tanzania K003073234 Yes
Chuwa, S. [2744] Tanzania K003073235 Yes
de Wilde, J.F.F.E. [4552] Ethiopia K003072535 Yes
Robbie, J. Sudan K:SPC-19100.000 No
Ogwal, E.N. [s.n.] Uganda K003073198 Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] K003073252 Yes
Ogwal, E.N. [94] Uganda K003073195 Yes
Lugard, E.J. [212] Kenya K003073215 Yes
Wood, G.H.S. [707] Uganda K:SPC-02182.000 No
Dillon, Q.; Petit [s.n.] Ethiopia K003072532 Yes
Mobbs, G.G. [10A] Tanzania K003073250 Yes
Tweedie [785] Kenya K:SPC-02181.000 No
Bax, R.D. (Miss) [s.n.] Tanzania K003073228 Yes
Sebald, O. [2240] Ethiopia K003072534 Yes

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images