Wandering Jew, Spreading Dayflower
Commelina diffusa

Family: Commelinaceae

What it is like

A small leafed, straggling herb, with blue flowers. It continues to grow from year to year. It can grow to 1 m long. The stems are weak. The stem is fleshy, and it roots at the nodes. The leaves are alternate and sword shaped. They are 4-10 cm long. They have short stalks and a stem clasping sheath. The flowers are blue and 2.5-3 cm across. One of the 3 petals is smaller than the others. The seeds have fine patterns on one side. They are angular and about 2 mm long.

There are about 230 Commelina species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in moist places. It can grow in shady places. It occurs from sea level up to about 1600 m altitude in the tropics. In Ethiopia it grows between 500-2,400 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Andaman Is., Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo DR, Congo R., Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Easter Island, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, French Guiana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Laos, Malaysia, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Niue, North America, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, St Helena, St Lucia, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaf tips are cooked and eaten. They are often stewed with pork. They are also used in soups.

In Papua New Guinea it is declining in importance as a cultivated crop but still harvested from the wild in a number of places. It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

It grows easily from stem pieces. It prefers poorly drained soil, in open sunny positions, but can grow quite well in shady places. Plants can also be grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Alikbangon, Awarang, Brambangan, Ekwangalele, Gandologi, Gatilang, Gewor lalakina, Gondo, Hombiyhaem, Jie jie cao, Kondo, Kondow, Kulkul-lasi, Kunchindo, Mau'utoga, Nuo niu pao, Ondos-do-mar, Pagei, Phak kab pi, Phak pab, Punyopujyu, Pup, Rumput aur, Sau rangi, Semprebiban-damalong, Trapoeraba, Welilo, Wetkyok, Zobut

Synonyms

Commelina nudiflora L.; Murdannia nudiflora ;