Plant photographed in Sydney

[Stephenb]

I'm sure someone will be able to identify this - photographed by a friend just outside of Sydney. Looks a bit Tradescantia like...

Thanks!

[TheOnionMan]

Looks like a Commelina species. Only 776 Commelina names in IPNI!  Looking at Google Images, there are so many look-alike species, I cannot venture a guess as to which one it might be.

[Stephenb]

Thanks, Mark - should have got that as I have a couple myself. A quick search for Commelina and Sydney threw up this:

http://www.friendsoflanecovenationalpark.org.au/Flowering/Flowers/Commelina_cyanea.htm

[TheOnionMan]

Stephen, I think you've found a match!

[Paul T]

Stephen,

I grow Commelina coelestris, which looks like your pic.  Such a wonderful blue.

[Stephenb]

Paul: It's coelestis I have too. I grow them in pots which I bring inside for winter keeping dry and cool from October to March. I have the standard blue as well as alba and albostriata (variegated). I enclose a picture of two of them.

Incidentally, notice that one of the English names is Scurvy grass, so named as the settlers ate it as a vegetable. Other Commelinas and Tradescantias are widely used for food, the reason I have them 

[Paul T]

Stephen,

I did have the alba form, although not sure that I still do (I haven't flowered the plant left in that pot in the last couple of years, and it could easily now be a seedling from the blue perhaps?  What is the variegated form like?  I love variegated plants, but realise that they generally don't come true from seed unfortunately.  Such a shame, as it would be lovely if they would.

With the extra rain here this spring, my C. coelestris is something like a metre tall, far taller than I've had it before.  Perhaps even 1.2m.  It seeds around a little, but not heavily, although seedset may increase for this year with the wetter spring.  Maybe next year I'll be dreading them popping up everywhere, but not this year. 

[Stephenb]

Actually, it was Commelina communis aureostriata I had, but it didn't last long and I don't have any pictures.

The variegated one I still have is C. coelestis Hopley's Variegated which has streaked variegation as in this picture I found:

http://tinyurl.com/62xwv5s

[Maggi Young]

one of the English names is Scurvy grass

Fancy that... I thought that Scurvy grass referred to Cochlearia   

[Stephenb]

There's quite a few plants called Scurvy grass, various Cochlearia as you say and Oxalis enneaphylla and I'm sure there are others...but where does the name "Creepy Christian" come from (in that link)? The same reason that Tradescantia is known as Wandering Jew?



 

[Arykana]

Tradescantia has been called as Szent László füve, grass of Saint Ladislaus's grass - it was used as the medicine of plague

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladislaus_I_of_Hungary

[Paul T]

Actually, it was Commelina communis aureostriata I had, but it didn't last long and I don't have any pictures.

The variegated one I still have is C. coelestis Hopley's Variegated which has streaked variegation as in this picture I found:

http://tinyurl.com/62xwv5s

And very nice it is too!  Great contrast between those leaves and the flowers.

[Stephenb]

Tradescantia has been called as Szent László füve, grass of Saint Ladislaus's grass - it was used as the medicine of plague

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladislaus_I_of_Hungary

Thanks Arykana

Amazing what plants teach us!

Stephen

[Arykana]

this is off, but have to tell: Ladislaus lived in Szekszárd, it is his home town, his parents are buried here secretly

I know Tradescantia exist in different colors, and would love to have pink, white ...., here is only the blue type can be found

[Paul T]

Arkyana,

I'll try to remember to look for seed on mine.  I have a white somewhere in the garden and a bright magenta pink clump.  I've never tried harvesting seed before though, but get seedlings so they must set them.  They're a bit of a weed for me.  Obviously though the seedlings might not be the same as the parent.  If I can isolate colours, can you receive divisions of a plant?