Commelina africana L.

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Commelina africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Cleveland Dam, Harare

Commelina africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near the lodges, Lake Kyle Recreational Park

Commelina africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mt Susurumba, Juliasdale.

Commelina africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mt Susurumba, Juliasdale.

Commelina africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mt Susurumba, Juliasdale.

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names: Gezi (Shona) Goche (Shona) Goshe (Shona) Wandering jew (English) Yellow commelina (English) Zheki (Shona)
Frequency: Common
Status: Native
Description:
Spreading, prostrate perennial herb. A very variable species, many varieties have been described at times. Flowers pale to bright yellow, borne from a boat-shaped bract, 1-3 at the time, each flower only lasting through the morning before disintegrating.
Notes: The young leaves are cooked as vegetables. The roots are used to treat a variety of pains and ailments. See C. welwitschii for comparison.
Derivation of specific name: africana: African
Habitat: Widespread in woodland, grassland and disturbed places.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:Nov - Apr
Worldwide distribution: Widespread in Africa, Yemen and Madagascar. Naturalized in Australia.
Zimbabwe distribution: N,W,C,E,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Monday 21 January 2019
Literature:

Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 242 - 243. (Includes a picture).

Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 294. under various subtaxa

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 15. under various sub taxa

Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 9. As Commelina africana africana, C. africana krebsiana and C. africana lancispatha

Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 231. as Commelina africana barberae (Includes a picture).

Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 154. (Includes a picture).

Linley, K. & Baker, B. (1972). Flowers of the Veld Bundu Series Longman Zimbabwe Page 11. (Includes a picture).

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 86.

Moriarty, A. (1975). Wild Flowers of Malawi Purnell & sons Cape Town. Pages 37 - 38. (Includes a picture).

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 117.

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 70.

Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 82. As var. africana and var. krebsiana


Other sources of information about Commelina africana:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Commelina africana
Flora of Caprivi: Commelina africana
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Commelina africana
Flora of Malawi: Commelina africana
Flora of Mozambique: Commelina africana
Flora of Zambia: Commelina africana

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Commelina africana
African Plant Database: Commelina africana
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Commelina africana
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Commelina africana
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Commelina africana
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Commelina africana
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Commelina africana
JSTOR Plant Science: Commelina africana
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Commelina africana
Plants of the World Online: Commelina africana
Tropicos: Commelina africana
Wikipedia: Commelina africana


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Commelina africana.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=112570, retrieved 19 March 2024

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