Dayflower, Tropical Spiderweed
Commelina benghalensis

Family: Commelinaceae

What it is like

A slender, juicy, creeping herb, often with hairs. It has underground branches, as well as branches on the ground surface. Plants continue to grow from year to year. Plants are only about 25 cm high but can spread quite widely. It has roots at the nodes. The leaves are oval, and pointed at both ends. They are wavy along the edge, and 4 to 7 cm long. The leaf clasps the stem. The flowers are blue, with three petals 3 to 4 mm long. The flowers are produced in the axils of the upper leaves during summer. The fruit have 3 cavities, with 2 seeds in 2 of them and one seed in the other. The seeds are about 2 mm long.

There are about 230 Commelina species. It easily becomes established as a weed.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows most commonly in fertile soils under humid conditions throughout the tropics. It is common in waste places, near settlements, at low and medium altitudes throughout the islands of the Philippines. It grows from sea level to 2300 m altitude, in China. In Nepal it grows between 900-2000 m altitude. It grows in moist places. It grows in wetlands. It can grow in arid places. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Northeastern India, NW India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sahel, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Uganda, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten cooked as a vegetable. They are also used as a potherb. They are also fried. The leaves boiled in water and eaten mixed with salt and chilli peppers. The seeds are ground into flour and made into bread. The starchy rhizomes are cooked and eaten. The young leaves can be stored for 4-5 days.

It is only rarely eaten. It is a very minor vegetable. It has low palatability. The roots and tubers are cooked as a famine food.

Edible parts

Leaves, rhizome, roots, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Leaves are collected during the early flush of the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Addo arxa, Alikbangon, Amala, Androko, A wei ya mo, Bakna, Ban kane, Bat baitta shak, Biasbias, Bokna, Bondium, Brambangan, Buchna, Chhura, Chura, Corogoma, Damba, Dzadza, Ekoropot, Ennadri, Fan bao cao, Geneya, Gewor, Guredural, Hairy wandering Jew, Holagabis, Ikengera, Itula, Jawarzaal, Jwaray, Kafura, Kana ara, Kana keerai, Kanangakarai, Kanavazhai, Kanchara, Kanchata, Kanchira, Kandhara, Kane jhar, Kane sag, Kani, Kaniseera, Kanjura, Kanna-manna, Kannae, Kanshira, Kansira, Kansiri, Kanteri, Kanuraka, Kanya sag, Kaua-kaini, Kena, Kenar, Keniyu, Kerina, Kermuw, Kolar, Kona simolu, Kona simulu, Korogwa, Kurveng, Leng, Lolo, Mpovupovu, Myit-cho, Nnanda ennene, Narray, Nhkongo, Nkongo, Odielo, Oolooh-ooloohan, Orandi, Pak prap, Petoongan, Petungan, Portotion, Sabilau, Surung, Tali korang, Tamba-gangala, Telka bhaji, Thenga puttu keerai, Vennadevikura, Wangden-khoibi, Wetkyok, Wohaankkur, Yekola wonfankur, Zobut

Synonyms

Commelina cavaleriei H. Léveillé;