Commelina ensifolia R.Br.

Brown, R. (1810) Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae : 269.

Scurvy Weed; Wandering Jew; Scurvy Grass

Stems +/- prostrate, producing roots at the nodes. Stems longitudinally ribbed and clothed in pale hairs.

Leaves semi-fleshy. Leaf blades 45-100 x 8-30 mm, free petiole nil, sheathing petiole about 15 mm long. Surfaces of the leaf blade clothed in pale hairs.

Inflorescence emerges from a broad cup-like bract 10-15 x 20-26 mm, clothed in hairs. Peduncle about 12 mm long. Pedicel about 5 mm long. Flowers about 20 mm diam. Outer tepals (sepals) translucent, dimorphic 5-6 x 4-6 mm or 3 x 2 mm. Inner tepals (petals) dimorphic 9-10 x 11-12 mm, deep blue in colour 3-4 x 3 mm and white or translucent. Stamens dimorphic, anthers about 2 mm long on filaments about 4 mm long and versatile or anthers about 2.5 mm long on filaments about 3 mm long and not versatile. Pollen orange-yellow. Staminodes yellow-orange, the anther part +/- 6-lobed. Ovary green, about 1 mm long. Style 4.5-5 mm long, curved like a fish-hook.

fruit enclosed in a large bract.

Features not available.

Widespread in Australia. Occurs in WA, NT, CYP, NEQ, CEQ and southwards to New South Wales. Occurs in monsoon forest, riparian forest, various types of woodland and wooded grassland.

Browsed by stock (Roe 87).