.svg)
Commelina ensifolia
  Thank you for being part of the Bharatpedia family! 0% transparency: ₹0 raised out of ₹100,000 (0 supporter) |
| Commelina ensifolia | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| : | [[Template:Taxonomy/Commelina]] |
| Species: | Template:Taxonomy/CommelinaC. ensifolia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Template:Taxonomy/CommelinaCommelina ensifolia | |
Commelina ensifolia, commonly known as scurvy weed, scurvy grass or wandering Jew,[1][2] is an annual herb native to Australia, India, and Sri Lanka.[3]
The species grows as a prostrate herb, producing roots from the stem at the nodes.[1] Flowers are bright blue with three petals, however one petal is much smaller than the others, often producing an appearance of two petals. The species prefers moist soils, but has a broad natural range, extending from coastal monsoon forest to the arid central deserts where it grows as an ephemeral following favourable rains.[1][2][4] The species has been eaten as a green vegetable by Aboriginals. European settlers also ate the plant to prevent scurvy, giving rise the common name of scurvy grass.[5]
The species is a minor weed in some parts of its natural range.[6]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Commelina ensifolia". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Commelina ensifolia". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ↑ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ↑ John Jessop; Australian Systematic Botany Society (1 January 1981). Flora of Central Australia. Reed.
- ↑ A. B. Cribb; Joan Winifred Cribb; Charles McCubbin (1987). Wild Food in Australia. Fontana/Collins. ISBN 978-0-00-636571-6.
- ↑ "Commelina ensifolia". Discover Nature at JCU. James Cook University Australia. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.