Compilation
Commelina welwitschii

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Name

Identification
Commelina welwitschii C.B.Clarke [family COMMELINACEAE ] (stored under name);
Related name
  • Commelina filifolia
  • Commelina welwitschii
  • Commelina subcucullata
  • Commelina rhodesica

Flora

Entry for COMMELINA Welwitschii C. B. Clarke [family COMMELINACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical Africa, Vol 8, page 25, (1902) Author: (By C. B. Clarke.)
Names
COMMELINA Welwitschii C. B. Clarke [family COMMELINACEAE], in DC. Monogr. Phan. iii. 175. —Durand & Schinz, Conspect. Fl. Afr. v. 429; Rendle in Cat. Afr. Pl. Welw. ii. 78.
Information
Scabrous-pubescent, or nearly glabrous. Stems 4–11 in. long, erect, thickened at the base, sometimes into bulbs 1/3 in. in diam.; roots thickened. Leaves linear, 4–8 by 1/4– 1/3 in., or (in Welwitsch, 6639) exceeding 12 in., dilated at the base. Peduncles scattered, exserted 1–3 in. from the leaf-sheaths, mostly very pubescent. Spathes 3/4–1 1/4 in. long, ovate, acuminate acute, hairy or nearly glabrate; margins free. Two posticous petals yellow; anticous petal yellow-brown or dull violet-green (Welwitsch). Capsule nearly 1/3 by 1/5 in., 4-seeded. Seeds much longer than broad, wrinkled or obscurely reticulate.
Distribution
Angola Lower Guinea Pungo Andongo, 2400–3800 ft.; on the slopes of the volcanic rocks of the Præsidium, Welwitsch, 6627! damp rocks of Cabonda, on the Præsidium, Welwitsch, 6632! 6637! Cazella, Welwitsch, 6638! plentiful throughout the district on rocks and in damp pastures, Welwitsch, 6639! Huilla; plentiful in pastures at Humpata, 3800–5500 ft., Welwitsch, 6586!
Notes
There may be two species here; in 6627 the spathes are scarcely 3/4 in. long, with conspicuous purple striations; in 6586 they are 1 1/4 in. long, green: in both these the two posticous petals are yellow, the anticous dull violet-green. The other numbers cited come all between these two extremes, nor have I been able to sort the species into two varieties.

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