Commelina erecta
whitemouth dayflower, erect dayflower, widow's tears, day flower, white-mouth dayflower, hierba del pollo
Family
Commelinaceae
Leaf Arrangement
alternate
Leaf Attachment
sheathing
Leaf Type
simple
Leaf Shape
elliptic, lanceolate, ovate
Growth Form
forb
Flower Month
April - November
Height (meters)
0.1 - 0.6
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Unarmed
Origin
native
Lifespan
perennial
Growing Season
Warm season
Wetland Class
FACU
Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism
4
Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism
4
Field Characters
Corolla blue with 1 smaller, white petal.
Animal Use
The following information for the genus Commelina: Animals that eat its seeds: Mourning dove, Bobwhite quail, Redwing blackbird, Cardinal. Animals that eat the plant: White-tailed deer (Martin et al. 1951).
Natural History
Often weedy in fields and gardens. It occurs in sandy or clay soils in pinelands, open woodlands, grasslands, limestone slopes, and stream banks throughout Louisiana and Texas.
Habitat
Dry woods, rock outcrops, and sandy soils.