Belosynapsis moluccana

Family: Commelinaceae

What it is like

A herb. It branches near the base and spreads. The branches are 45 cm long. They form roots at the nodes. The leaves on the main stem are 12-30 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The leaves on the branches are smaller. The leaves are narrow and have small hairs near the base. The flower panicles are at the tips. There re 4-10 flowers in a group. The petals are blue or purple. The fruit is a capsule 4-5 mm long by 2-3 mm wide and 3 lobed. There are 2 seeds in each section. The seeds are 3 sided and have pits.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in grassland. In Papua New Guinea it grows from sea level to 2,400 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Aneilema terminale (Blume) Bold. Illegit.; Belosynapsis uniflora (Hassk.) C. E. C. Fisch.; Commelina moluccana Roxb.; Cyanotis brunnea Elmer invalid; Cyanotis moluccana (Roxb.) Merr.; Cyanotis uniflora Hassk.; Murdannia terminalis (Blume) Raizada; Tonningia moluccana (Roxb.) Kuntze; Tradescantia terminalis Blume;