Commelina benghalensis - Dayflower

❏ Binomial Name : Commelina benghalensis L.

❏ Synonym : Commelina acuminata,Commelina mollis,Commelina hirsuta

❏ Family : Commelinaceae

❏ Common Name : Dayflower

❏ Tamil Name : Kanavazhai

❏ Hindi Name : Kanchara

❏ IUCN status: Least Concern

Commelina benghalensis Botanical Description

Diffuse herbs, rooting at lower nodes; rootstock with cleistogamous flowers. Leaves 3-5 x 2-3.5 cm, ovate or elliptic-ovate, base rounded or subtruncate, apex obtuse or acute, pubescent, margin ciliate; petiole to 8 mm long; sheath to 1.5 cm long, apex with rufous hairs. Spathe c. 1.5 cm across, funnel-shaped, truncate at apex, pubescent. Sepals subequal, c. 2.5 mm long; outer ones linear; inner ones orbicular. Petals blue, larger ones c. 4 x 4.5 mm, broadly ovate. Stamens 3; staminodes 2. Ovary to 1mm long. Capsule to 5 mm long, ellipsoid, 3-celled. Seeds 5, pitted.

Fl. &Fr.: Through out the year.

Commelina benghalensis Medicinal uses

❀ Young leaves and young shoots are eaten as vegetable during scarcity or coated with rice flour as cultets.

❀ The sap is used for the treatment of eye ailments, sore throat and burns and as a topical application for thrush in infants

❀ The leaves are pounded and soaked in warm water and then the solution is drunk to treat diarrhoea

❀ A decoction of the root is used for the relief of stomach disorders

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