Flora of the Hawaiian Islands
Monocotyledon Literature for Commelina benghalensis
Wagner et al., 1990, 1999.
   Commelinaceae -- The Spiderwort Family Bibliography
      Commelina benghalensis

Common name(s): day flower, hairy honohono
General Information
DistributionNative to tropical Asia and Africa, widely naturalized.In the Hawaiian Islands, naturalized on Kaua`i, O`ahu, Moloka`i, Maui, Hawai`i.















Habit
Stems prostrate or ascending, often rooting at the nodes, up to 4 dm long, pubescent.
Leaves
Leaf blades ovate to broadly ovate, 3-5 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide, puberulent and ± appressed pilose, apex obtuse, abruptly contracted at base, sheaths 1-2 cm long, pilose and usually long-ciliate in upper part, the hairs rust-colored.
Flowers
Hypogeous flowers sometimes present, margins of spathe connate at base, 1-1.5 cm long, peduncles ± exserted from spathe; petals pale blue, 4-5 mm long.
Seeds
Seeds 5 per capsule, transversely wrinkled.
Chromosomes
2n = 18, 22, 28, 30, 44, 48, 56, 66, 68