Commelina commons: characteristics, distribution and care

Commelina common

Today we are going to talk about a type of wild plant that grows on Mount Takao and that belongs to the temperate-quality and cold-temperate zone. This is the plant known as Commelina common. By common name it is known as canutillo from Cuba and asango from Japan. There are many varieties of this group of plants and they can be enjoyed growing during each season of the year.

In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics and curiosities of the plant Commelina common.

Key features

Commelina common flowers

The group of these plants has scientifically identified comas of 1600 species of plants. This is a comparable number to all wild plant species growing across the UK. The Commelina common it is an annual plant that germinates and blooms throughout the course of a year. We can find it in meadows and the edges of the roads, although it has great beauty. Its reproduction is carried out by extending the inner stems that tend to grow horizontally along the ground. The stems are branching were producing roots from the nodes.

Contrary to what happens with the vast majority of plants, it is the knots of the stems that, spreading horizontally, generate roots and spread throughout the land. The flower of this plant lasts open for only one day. It opens in the morning and already begins to close around noon. This plant was used in ancient times to dye cloth. For it, the juice of its flowers was used, which were squeezed to color the fabrics.

The flower is about 1.5 centimeters in diameter and has a vivid blue color. It has 3 petals, two of them are located in the upper part and one of them in the lower part. The upper petals are larger and more showy. On the other hand, the lower petal has a white color and a smaller size.

Curiosities of the Commelina common

development of roots by the stem

If we go to the center of the flower we see that 6 yellow stamens extend. 4 of these stamens are staminodia, that is, they cannot produce pollen. The way this plant reproduces is by self-pollination. That is, the plant is capable of transmitting pollen from the anther to the stigma of the same flower. When the flora closes it is more difficult for it to be pollinated. However, as it can also be pollinated by insects, its survival is guaranteed.

One of the curiosities of this plant is that the leaf is very similar to that of a dwarf bamboo. It has a fairly elongated shape but with a slimmer appearance. They are usually about 5-6 centimeters long. The leaves grow one by one for each vertical node that grows from the stem. As mentioned before, horizontally extending stems develop roots at the nodes. The leaves grow one for each world and each time on the opposite side of the stem and have a sheathing base.

The Commelina common it is considered to be an active plant from around mid-July to mid-September. This is so because its flowers are most active at this time. The plant can reach a height of only 20-40 centimeters in its maximum development. For this reason, we can find it on the edges of the roads and in the meadows with the rest of the low plants.

Distribution and impacts of Commelina common

This plant has its natural habitat in thickets and humid forests or cultivated lands. In cultivated land, it takes advantage of the excess of nitrogen fertilizers to be able to grow more quickly and have more showy flowers. It needs somewhat lower temperatures and a high degree of humidity to be able to develop in good conditions. It is not a plant that is usually had in gardening, but it does not need much care. It can also be found frequently on vacant lots, plantations, and crop banks.

The Commelina common It can be found in all the areas that we have always mentioned when the altitude is still between sea level and 1500 meters high. Its distribution depending on the types of soil varies in those that are more sandy. Although it can survive well in other types of soils, it appears to prefer sandy soils.

Regarding the impacts that this plant receives, it is known as a weed in rice, sugarcane, coffee, citrus, some ornamental plants and banana crops. Although it is not considered a weed of concern, it is not very susceptible to glyphosate. As it is not so susceptible to this type of herbicide, it can become a problem for systems with conservation tillage and direct seeding.

In some parts of the world this common plant is used medicinal uses to reduce the pain of irritated eyes. To do this, they use the sap of this plant to create drops for the eyes. The roots are fleshy and they are also edible. However, the most widespread use of this plant is undoubtedly ornamental. The flowers are quite attractive and this deep vivid blue color mix tends to blend well with other types of flowers. Being shorter can help decorate the bottom of a planter.

Basic care

Here we are not going to extend too much since it does not need too much care nor is it very complicated to maintain. It only needs a substrate preferably with a mixture of sand and peat with a proportion of 2/3 of sand and little irrigation. It is necessary that the substrate has a good drainage so that irrigation water does not accumulate. What we must keep this substrate moist at all times since this plant requires a high humidity index to survive well.

It is resistant to pests and diseases since we have seen that it has a great resistance to some herbicides. Therefore, it does not need too much care other than those mentioned.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Commelina common and their characteristics.

Commelina commons: characteristics, distribution and care

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