Day-flower, Bird's-foot grass
Murdannia nudiflora

Family: Commelinaceae

What it is like

A creeping herb. It lies along the ground. It keeps growing from year to year. It forms roots at the nodes. The base has a thickened root or tuber. The leaves are narrow and oval. They form a sheath around the stem. Leaves taper towards the tip. The leaves can be 9 cm long. The leaf like structure around the flower is boat shaped. The flowers are pale blue and about 0.6 cm across. They occur in a small cluster near the ends of branches. The flowers open about midday. The fruit is a 3 celled capsule which splits open. There are 2 seed in each cell. The seeds are angular and the seed coat has pits.

There are 50 Murdannia species. They grow in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in damp places. In the lowlands it grows in light shade and in higher altitudes it grows in full sun. In Papua New Guinea it grows from sea level to 1,800 m altitude. It occurs throughout the tropics. It grows in waste places and in rice fallows. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, Central America, China, Cuba, Guianas, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Sikkim, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand, USA, Indian Ocean and Pacific Islands, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The tender leaves are cooked as a vegetable. They are also used in soups. The young plant is used as a flavouring. It is used as a vegetable with curry.

It is occasionally cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. They also grow easily and naturally from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Babawangan, Brambangan, Gewor, Glegor, Grogos, Jalegor, Jeboran, Kane jhar, Kanshura, Koshapushpi, Luo hua shui zhu ye, Pak-prap, Patuk gagak, Petungan, Rumpu aur, Rumput kekupu, Rumput tapak burong, Rumput tapak itek, Ryau ryau, Tali korang, Tali said, Thalipullu, Vazhapazhathi

Synonyms

Aneilema bracteolatum var. majus Seub.; Aneilema bracteatum C. B. Clarke; ? Aneilema compressum Dalziel; Aneilema debile Wall. [Invalid]; Aneilema diversifolium Hassk.; Aneilema foliosum Hassk.; Aneilema junghunianum Miq.; Aneilema lancifolium Griff.; Aneilema malabarica (Linn.) Merrill; Aneilema nudicaule (Burm. f.) Loudon; Aneilema nudiflorum (L.) Sweet; Aneilema nudiflorum (Linnaeus) R. Brown; Aneilema radicans D. Don; Aneilema trichocoleum Schauer; Callisia parvula Brandegee; Commelina minuta Blume; Commelina nudicaulis Burm.f.; Commelina nudiflora Burm.f.; Commelina nudiflora Linnaeus; Commelina radicans (D. Don) Spreng.; Commelina sellowii Schltdl.; Cyanotis gueinzii Hassk.; Ditelesia nudiflora (L.) Raf.; Murdannia malabarica (Linn.) Bruck.; Phaeneilema diversifolium (Hassk.) G. Bruckn.; Phaeneilema malabarica (Linn.) Naraan Swami ex Biswas; Phaeneilema nudiflorum (L.) G. Bruckn.; Stickmannia guyanensis Raf.; Stickmannia longicollis Raf.; Tradescantia malabarica Linnaeus;