Common name: Common Dayflower
Latin name: Commelina communis L.
Family: Commelinaceae
Life Cycle: Annual or Perennial
Type: Grass-like
Description: Common Dayflower (sometimes called Asiatic Dayflower) is an annual weed that is not actually a grass but has a grass-like appearance when mowed. It has symettrical flowers, and inflorescences enclosed in spathes, which are typically pale green with dark green veins. It has 2 blue petals and 1 white petal which can be used to distinguish it from Spreading Dayflower (Commelina diffusa L.) which has 3 blue petals. The name Dayflower comes from the fact that flowers that emerge in the morning are often gone before the afternoon sun.
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