Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan, Commelinaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Aneilema nudiflorum (L.) R. Br.; Commelina nudiflora L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Bontoc: katkatauang

Chinese: luo hua shui zhu ye

English: dayflower, nakedstem dewflower, spreading dayflower

Fijian: luna

French: herbe aux archons

Ibatan: kohasi

Ifugao: bangar na lalake

Iloko: kolasi

Samoan: ma‘u‘ua toga

Spanish: cohitre, comelina, maclalillo

Tagalog: alikbangon

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Unbranched to many-branched annual herbs; stems often rooting at the nodes, 0.8-3 dm long.  Leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, 1.5-7 (-18) cm long, 0.3-0.8 cm wide.  Flowers perfect, slightly zygomorphic, terminal and/or axillary in long-pedunculate, solitary or fasiciculate, few-flowered cymes, bracteoles caducous; sepals 2-3 mm long; petals pinkish purple or violet, 3-3.5 (-6) mm long; stamens 2, staminodes 4.  Capsules 2.5-5 mm long.  Seeds 2 per cell, 1.3-1.8 mm long, deeply pitted"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1380).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in disturbed, mesic sites" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1380). In Papua New Guinea "A plant of dampish situations, found as a weed of gardens, lawns, cultivation, roadsides and headlands; usually under partial shade at low altitudes, but at higher altitudes sun-tolerant."  (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 27).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Asia, naturalized in North and tropical America" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1380).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced invasive	Setchell, William Albert (1924) (p. 108) As Commelina nudiflora L.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Dublon (Tonowas) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 98)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 98)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 98)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1380) Voucher cited: Degener 33371 (BISH)
New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea) New Guinea Island	New Guinea Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 98)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2007) (voucher ID: PTBG 46972) Taxon name on voucher: Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago		Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 78)
Papua New Guinea Bougainville Islands	Bougainville Island		Foreman, D. B. (1971) (p. 23)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	invasive	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 27) From near sea level to at least 1800 m.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1925) (p. 195) In open grasslands, waste places, etc., at low and medium altitudes, often common.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 92)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Burkill, I. H. (1900) (p. 57)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Wet places by water, rarely among grass; low elevations (to 1500 m in Yunnan). C Anhui (Shucheng Xian), Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, S Henan (Tongbai Xian), WC Hunan (Xuefeng Shan), N and S Jiangsu, Jiangxi, C and E Shandong (Laoshan Xian, Tai Shan), C Sichuan (Emei Shan, Guanghan Xian), S and W Yunnan".
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (pp. 303-304) On grassland.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Japan Japan	Japan	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 231)
Negara Brunei Darussalam Brunei	Brunei (Negara Brunei Darussalam)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 67, 78)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	uncertain if introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 62) Weed of uncertain origin
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 231)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island		Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 231)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island		Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 235)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas Naturalized
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Control:  If you know of control methods for Murdannia nudiflora, please let us know.