Dayflower
Commelina spp.
Commelinaceae (Spiderwort Family)
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▲▼ colony of flowering plants
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Dayflower:
· a summer annual, but some species may act as a perennial here, with creeping roots and stems rooting at the nodes
· has light-green, alternate, oval-pointed leaves with parallel veins (is a monocot) in the Spiderwort (Commelinaceae) Family
· flowers are small, deep blue in the axils of the leaves
· reproduces by seed and vegetative means
· prefers moist, fertile soil—gardens, cultivated fields—but also will grow on roadsides, non-crop areas
· has sprawling growth habit—long stems can create a tangled web in gardens, flower beds
· related to the houseplants—wandering jew, inch plant—and the native perennial spiderwort
· some non-native species are very invasive in other parts of the U.S. (not in Missouri, yet)
· common dayflower species in Missouri: Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina communis), Spreading Dayflower (Commelina diffusa) and Erect Dayflower (Commelina erecta) - please click on links to see more about each species