First report of the Commelina communis from Iran

Abstract

In the investigation of plants growing in the tea plantations of the Caspian regions (north of Iran), a specimen belonging to the family <em>Commelinaceae</em> was collected which was identified as <em>Commelina</em> <em>communis </em>L. The characteristic features of the plant are as follows:Annual herb, to more than 1; stems procumbent to ascendant, branched from stems root at the basal nodes; leaves sessile, or subpetiolate; leaf sheaths cylindrical, glabrous, with margins pubescent or pilose; leaf blades ovate-lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, 3–7 × 1–3 cm, glabrous to pubescent, acute to acuminate; inflorescence cincinnus, subtended by a broadly cordate spathe of 1–2.5 × 1–3 cm; peduncles or stalks 0.8–3.5 cm; sepals ovate, membranous, two party fused; the two upper petals rounded-obovate, shortly clawed at base, blue to indigo, lower petals much smaller, ovate-lanceolate, white. Three anticous stamens fertile, three posticous infertile; ovary ellipsoid, 2 mm long. Fruit dehiscent, ellipsoid, capsulate; capsule with two locules each containing two seeds, glabrous, brown, 4.5–8 mm long; seeds brown or brownish yellow, semiellipsoid, flat on 1 surface, rugose, irregularly pitted, truncate at one end, 3.8–4 × 2.2–3 mm. <em><br /></em>