8. Murdannia Royle, Ill. Bot. Himal. Mts. [11]: 403 (1840).
Taxon Description
Annual or perennial herbs. Roots fusiform. Rhizomes present or absent. Stems creeping or ascending. Leaves alternate, linear, lanceolate to ovate, pubescent, sheaths vaginate, open, margin entire or wavy. Inflorescence cyme, involucral bracts not penetrating the leaf sheath and emerges through the mouth of sheath. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic. Pedicels present. Sepals 3, free, ovate or elliptic, boat-shaped. Petals 3, free, orbicular or obovate, upper two larger, lower one single, small, purple, blue, pink or yellow. Stamens 6, fertile stamens 3, filaments glabrous or hairy, staminodes absent or 3, inserted opposite to petals, antherodes sagittate or 3-partite, longitudinally dehiscent. Ovary 3-loculed, ovules 1–7 per locule. Capsules 2- or 3-valved, ovoid, ellipsoid, or globose. Seeds 1 or 2 per valve, cylindric, trigonous, rugose, reticulate, hilum linear or rarely orbicular.
Taxon Statistics
Key to Species
1a Main stems rudimentary ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….……………… 1. M. japonica
b Main stems well developed ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….,…………………. 2
2a Stems scapiform, leafless ……………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………..………… 2. M. edulis
b Stems erect, leafy …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
3a Root tuberous. Leaves arranged at basal part of stem ……………………………………………………..………………………..………..… 3. M. divergens
b Root fibrous or fusiform. Leaves arranged along the stem ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….… 4
4a Inflorescences solitary. Capsule ovoid or globose …………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………………… 5
b Inflorescences axillary. Capsule ellipsoid oblong …………………………………………………………………………..………………….………………….…..….… 6
5a Leaves elliptic. Seeds 4 per valve, flattened ……………………………………………………………………………..………………..…………………. 4. M. keisak
b Leaves lanceolate. Seeds 2 per valve, reticulated …………………………………………………………………………………..…..…………… 5. M. nudiflora
6a Capsule ovoid. Filaments pubescent ….……… ……………………………………………………………………………………………...………..…..… 6. M. spirata
b Capsule ellipsoid. Filaments glabrous ………….…………………………………………………………………………………………….……….…..…… 7. M. blumei
1. Murdannia japonica (Thunb.) Faden, Taxon 26: 142 (1977).
Commelina japonica Thunb., Trans. Linn. Soc. London 2: 232 (1794); Aneilema elatum (Vahl) Kunth; A. latifolium Wight; A. lineolatum (Blume) Kunth; Commelina elata Vahl; C. herbacea Roxb.; C. lineolata Blume; Murdannia elata (Vahl) Bruckn.; M. lineolata (Blume) J. K. Morton.
Perennial herbs, 10–22 cm. Roots fibrous. Stems rudimentary, glabrous. Leaves alternate, elliptic, 8–15 X 1.5–4.5 cm, basal, rosulate, glabrous, base connate, apex obtuse, acute or shortly acuminate. Inflorescence terminal cyme, cincinni many, glabrous, involucral bracts small, longer proximal ones 1.5 cm, smaller distal one 3 mm, membranous. Pedicels present. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic. Sepals 3, 1–6 mm, narrowly elliptic. Petals 3,1–6 cm, purple or blue, obovate-orbicular Stamens 6, fertile stamens 2 or 3, filaments pubescent, staminodes 3, antherodes 3-partite, blue. Ovary 3-locule, ovules 1 per locule. Capsules 3-valved, ellipsoid. Seeds 2–4 per valve, tetragonal, 2.6–4.2 mm, hilum verrucose, brown-gray.
Distribution: Nepal, W. Himalaya, E. Himalaya, Assam-Burma, E. Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 800–2000 m.
Ecology: Forest margin.
Flowering: August–September.
Fruiting: September–October.
2. Murdannia edulis (Stokes) Faden, Tab. Pl. Jav. Orchid. (1825).
Commelina edulis Stokes, Bot. Mat. Med. 1: 184 (1812); Aneilema scapiflorum (Roxb.) Kostel.; A. serotinum G.Don ex C.B.Clarke; Commelina scapiflora Roxb.; Murdannia scapiflora (Roxb.) Royle.
Perennial herbs, 10–22 cm. Roots fibrous. Stems undeveloped, glabrous. Leaves alternate, elliptic, 8–15 X 1.5–4.5 cm, basal, rosulate, glabrous, base connate, apex obtuse, acute or shortly acuminate. Inflorescence terminal cyme, cincinni many, glabrous, involucral bracts small, longer proximal ones 1.5 cm, smaller distal one 3 mm, membranous. Pedicels present. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic. Sepals 3, 1–6 mm, narrowly elliptic. Petals 3,1–6 cm, purple or blue, obovate-orbicular Stamens 6, fertile stamens 2 or 3, filaments pubescent, staminodes 3, antherodes 3-partite, blue. Ovary 3-locule, ovules 1 per locule. Capsules 3-valved, ellipsoid. Seeds 2–4 per valve, tetragonal, 2.6–4.2 mm, hilum verrucose, brown-gray.
Distribution: Nepal, W. Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S. Asia (India, Sri Lanka), E Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1600–2000 m.
Ecology: Moist shady place.
Flowering: June– August.
Fruiting: August – September.
3. Murdannia divergens (C.B.Clarke) G.Brückn., Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2 [Engler & Prantl] 15a: 173 (1930).
Aneilema herbaceum var. divergens C.B.Clarke, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 11: 448 (1871); Aneilema divergens (C.B.Clarke) C.B.Clarke; A. herbaceum C.B.Clarke; A. longifolium Wall.; Phaeneilema divergens (C.B.Clarke) G.Brückn.
Perennial herbs, 15–50 cm. Roots tuberous. Stems erect, sparsely pubescent. Leaves alternate, lanceolate, cauline, 2–11 X 0.5–1.5 cm, all basal, apex acute, glabrous. Inflorescences terminal cyme, cincinni numerous, opposite or whorled, involucral bracts ovate to lanceolate, 2–10 mm. Pedicels straight, thin, glabrous, 1–3 mm. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic. Sepals 3, 3–7 mm, ovate-orbicular. Petals 3, 3–7 mm, obovate-orbicular, purple-red to purple-blue. Stamens 6, 5–6 mm, pubescent, fertile stamens 3, staminodes 3, pale pink. Ovary 3-locule, ovules 3–5 per locule. Capsules 3-valved, obovoid or ellipsoid. Seeds 3–5 per valve, 2.8–5.8 mm, uniseriate, gray black.
Distribution: Nepal, E. Himalaya, Assam-Burma, E Asia, and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1200–2400 m.
Ecology: Shorea robusta forest.
Flowering: June–September.
Fruiting: August–September.
4. Murdannia keisak (Hassk.) Hand.-Mazz., Symb. Sin. 7(Leif 5): 1243 (1936).
Aneilema keisak Hassk., Commelin. Ind.: 32 (1870).
Annual herbs, 6–12 cm. Roots fibrous. Rhizomes horizontal, elongate. Stems creeping proximally, ascending distally. Leaves alternate, linear-lanceolate or linear-elliptic, 1–3 X 0.3–0.5 cm, sessile, apex acuminate. Inflorescence terminal cyme, cincinni 1-flowered, pedicellate, involucral bracts typically lanceolate to ovate, often tapering at apex, membranous, glabrous, scarious. Pedicels present. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic. Sepals 3, 2–4 mm, ovate to lanceolate, acute at apex, oblong, glabrous, entire. Petals 3, 2–5 mm, obovate, purple. Stamens 6, 4–6 mm, fertile stamens 3, filaments bearded, staminodes 3, antherodes sagittate, pink. Ovary 3-locule, ovules 4 per locule. Capsules 3-valved, ovoid. Seeds 4 per valve, seeds 1.8–4.8 mm, uniseriate, seeds flattened, gray.
Distribution: Nepal, S. Asia, E Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1100–1400 m.
Ecology: In wet places.
Flowering: August–September.
Fruiting: September–October.
5. Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan, Kew Bull. 7(2): 189 (1952).
Commelina nudiflora L., Sp. Pl. 1: 41 (1753); Aneilema nudiflorum (L.) R.Br. ex Sweet; A. radicans D.Don; Commelina nudicaulis Burm.f.; C. radicans (D.Don) Spreng.; Murdannia malabarica (L.) Bruckn.; Tradescantia malabarica L.
Annual herbs, 22–46 cm. Roots fusiform. Stems slender, ascending, simple, branched, glabrous. Leaves alternate, linear to lanceolate, 2–7 X 0.3–0.6 cm, cauline, sessile, entire, sheath margins ciliate, sometimes glabrous, blade linear or lanceolate, glabrous or slightly hispid. Inflorescence terminal cyme, involucral bracts leaflike, ovate or lanceolate, caducous, proximal bracts smaller, distal bracts less than 10 mm. Pedicels present. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic. Sepals 3, 2–3 mm, ovate-elliptic, free. Petals 3, 2–4 mm, mmobovate-orbicular, purple. Stamens 3, 4–5 mm, 2 fertile, filament hairy, staminodes 3, sterile, anthers 3-sect, pale yellow, white. Ovary 3 loculed, ovules 2 per locule. Capsules 2-valved, ovoid-globose. Seeds 2 per valve, seeds 1.6–3.8 mm, reticulate, rugose, hilum orbicular, white.
Distribution: Nepal, W. Himalaya, E. Asia, Assam-Burma, E Asia, SE Asia; and Australasia.
Altitudinal range: 100–1700 m.
Ecology: Found in moist places, Oak forest.
Flowering: June– August.
Fruiting: August – September.
6. Murdannia blumei (Hassk.) Brenan, Hooker's Icon. Pl. 36: 3578 (1962).
Dichaespermum blumei Hassk., Commelin. Ind.: 41 (1870); Aneilema blumei (Hassk.) Bakh. f.; A. hamiltonianum Wall. ex C. B. Clarke.
Annual herbs, 10–24 cm. Rhizomes present or absent. Stems decumbent. Leaves spiral, lanceolate or linear lanceolate, 1–6 X 0.5–1 cm, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescence terminal or axillary cyme, cincinni solitary or numerous, involucral bracts leaflike, ovate to lanceolate, membranous, margin scarious, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Pedicels present. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic. Sepals 3, 2–6 mm, boat-shaped, free, glabrous. Petals 3, 2–5 mm, pale pink to liliac, elliptic to obovate-elliptic. Stamens 6, 3 fertile, filaments glabrous, staminodes 3, antherodes sagittate or 3-partite, white. Ovary 3 loculed, ovules 1– 2 per locule. Capsules 3-valved, oblong-ellipsoid. Seeds 1–2 per valve, polygonal to rectangular, 1.4–2.8 mm, hilum elliptic, gray white.
Distribution: Nepal, E. Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S. Asia, and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1200–1400 m.
Ecology: Marshy place.
Flowering: January–February.
Fruiting: March–April.
7. Murdannia spirata (L.) G.Brückn., Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2 [Engler & Prantl] 15a: 173 (1930).
Commelina spirata L., Mant. Pl. Altera: 176 (1771); Aneilema spiratum (L.) R.Br. ex Sweet.
Annual herbs, 11–29 cm. Root fibrous. Stems decumbent. Leaves alternate, linear, lanceolate to ovate, 1–5 X 0.5–0.8 cm, apex acute, glabrous, sheath ciliate at apex, blade narrowly ovate to lanceolate, base truncate, margin undulate. Inflorescence terminal and axillary cyme, cincinni 1–4, glabrous, involucral bracts apical one sheath-like, encircling the upper part of peduncle, proximal 1–2, leaflike, membranous, typically absent when only two cincinni developed. Pedicels present. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic. Sepals 3, 3–6 mm, elliptic. Petals 3, 0.5–0.8 cm, pale blue, obovate-orbicular. Stamens 3, filament hairy, anthers pale yellow, staminodes 3, white. Ovary 3 loculed, ovules 3– 7 per locule. Capsules 3-valved, ovoid, oblong, trigonous. Seeds 3–7 per valve, 1.6–3.8 mm, verrucose, gray.
Distribution: Nepal, E. Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S. Asia, E. Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 100–1900 m.
Ecology: Grow near sandy or muddy soil.
Flowering: January–December.
Fruiting: November– December.