Commelina dianthifolia
Appearance
Birdbill dayflower | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Commelinales |
Family: | Commelinaceae |
Genus: | Commelina |
Species: | C. dianthifolia
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Binomial name | |
Commelina dianthifolia |
Commelina dianthifolia, known as the birdbill dayflower, is a perennial herb native to the south-western United States (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas) and northern Mexico.[1] Petals are blue while sepals are green. The inflorescence is a scorpioid cyme and it is subtended by a boat-like spathe.
Uses
An infusion of plant used by Keres people as a strengthener for weakened tuberculosis patients.[2] The Ramah Navajo give a cold simple or compound infusion to livestock as an aphrodisiac.[3]
References
- ^ Commelina dianthifolia Delile - PLANTS Profile. USDA Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ^ Swank, George R. 1932 The Ethnobotany of the Acoma and Laguna Indians. University of New Mexico, M.A. Thesis (p. 38)
- ^ Vestal, Paul A. 1952 The Ethnobotany of the Ramah Navaho. Papers of the Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology 40(4):1-94 (p. 19)