Commelina africana, the common yellow commelina, is a widespread species of flowering plant in the family Commelinaceae.[2] It is native to Sub‑Saharan Africa, Madagascar, Réunion, and the Arabian Peninsula, and has been introduced to India.[1] It is occasionally consumed as a leaf vegetable, and occasionally fed to rabbits and pigs.[3][4]

Commelina africana
Flowers
Botanical illustration
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Commelinales
Family: Commelinaceae
Genus: Commelina
Species:
C. africana
Binomial name
Commelina africana
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Commelina angolensis C.B.Clarke
    • Commelina benghalensis Forssk.
    • Commelina boehmiana K.Schum.
    • Commelina buchananii C.B.Clarke
    • Commelina cordifolia A.Rich.
    • Commelina dinteri Mildbr.
    • Commelina divaricata Vahl
    • Commelina edulis A.Rich.
    • Commelina elliotii C.B.Clarke & Rendle ex Scott Elliot
    • Commelina flava Salisb.
    • Commelina involucrosa A.Rich.
    • Commelina karooica C.B.Clarke
    • Commelina kirkii C.B.Clarke
    • Commelina krebsiana Kunth
    • Commelina lutea Cordem.
    • Commelina lutea Moench
    • Commelina lyallii (C.B.Clarke) H.Perrier
    • Commelina mannii C.B.Clarke
    • Commelina polyclada Welw. ex C.B.Clarke
    • Commelina subamplectens Hassk.
    • Dirtea africana (L.) Raf.
    • Hedwigia africana (L.) Medik.
    • Stickmannia africana (L.) Raf.

Subtaxa

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The following subtaxa are accepted:[1]

  • Commelina africana subsp. africana
  • Commelina africana var. glabriuscula (Norl.) Brenan – Southern Africa, Rift Valley
  • Commelina africana var. karooica (C.B.Clarke) Govaerts – Namibia, Botswana, South Africa
  • Commelina africana var. krebsiana (Kunth) C.B.Clarke – Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Comoros
  • Commelina africana var. lancispatha C.B.Clarke – Sierra Leone, eastern, central and southern Africa
  • Commelina africana var. milleri Brenan – Namibia, Botswana, Northern Provinces, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
  • Commelina africana var. villosior (C.B.Clarke) Brenan – Most of range
  • Commelina africana subsp. zanzibarica Faden – Kenya, Tanzania, and introduced to India

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Commelina africana L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  2. ^ Foden, W.; Potter, L. (2005). "Common Yellow Commelina". National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). Retrieved 11 August 2021. Common Names; ... Yellow Wandering Jew (e)
  3. ^ Mwajumwa, L.B.S.; Kahangi, E. Murugi; Imungi, Jasper K. (1991). "The prevalence and nutritional value of some Kenyan indigenous leafy vegetables from three locations of Machakos district". Ecology of Food and Nutrition. 26 (4): 275–280. doi:10.1080/03670244.1991.9991211.
  4. ^ Grubben, G. J. H. (2004). Vegetables. Backhuys. pp. 211–212. ISBN 9789057821486.