Commelinaceae

Amischotolype Hassk.

1. Amischotolype hispida (A.Rich.) D.Y.Hong, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 12 (1974) 461; ≡ Forrestia hispida A.Rich., Voy. Astrolabe 2 (1834) 2; Type: from New Guinea. = Forrestia hispida var. philippinensis (Merr.) Merr., EPFP 1 (1923) 197; ≡ Forrestia philippinensis Merr., Publ. Bur. Sci. Gov. Lab. 35 (1906) 5; Type: Merrill 4051 (PNH, holo; K, photo iso). Distribution: China, Indochina, Java, New Guinea, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Taiwan. BASILAN, BOHOL (photos), CATANDUANES, CEBU, LEYTE, LUZON: Albay, Camarines Sur, Laguna, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Sorsogon, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Cotabato (photos), Davao Oriental (photos), Davao de Oro (photos), Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Lanao, Lanao del Sur (photos), Misamis Oriental (photos), Surigao del Norte (photos), Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga del Sur (photos), MINDORO, NEGROS, PANAY, POLILLO, SAMAR, TAWI-TAWI. Notes: Low and medium elevation forests. Thickets and old clearings at the vicinity of primary forests. 120-2000m. Native.
2. Amischotolype marginata (Blume) Hassk., Flora 46 (1863) 392; ≡ Campelia marginata Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae (1827) 7; Type: from Indonesia. Distribution: Borneo, Java, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Thailand. MINDANAO: Lanao del Sur, PALAWAN. Native.

Commelina L.

1. Commelina benghalensis L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 41; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 138; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 195. Distribution: Africa, Andaman Isls, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indian Ocean, Japan, Java, Korea, Malay Peninsula, Middle East, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicobar Isls, Pakistan, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. BASILAN, LEYTE, LUZON: Bulacan, Cavite, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Laguna, Mountain Province, NCR, MINDANAO: Bukidnon, South Cotabato, MINDORO (photos), PALAWAN, PANAY (photos). Notes: Throughout the Philippines. Lowland and medium elevation grasslands, waste places in the settled areas. Often common. 15-1656m. Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1). Native.
2. Commelina caroliniana Walter, Fl. Carol. (1788) 68; Faden, Taxon 38 (1989) 50; Nampy et al., Phytotaxa 87 (2013) 26. Distribution: Bangladesh, India, Nepal. Notes: Note by P.B. Pelser (17-Jan-21): I did not find notes on the ecology of this species for the Philippines, but elsewhere it is reported from paddy fields and along roadsides, ditches, and streams (Nampy et al. 2013). Naturalized.
3. Commelina diffusa Burm.f., Fl. Ind. (N. L. Burman) (1768) 18; Romeroso et al., Asian J. Biol. Life Sc. 10 (2021) 437. Distribution: BASILAN, BATAN, CEBU, HOMONHON, LEYTE, LUZON: Abra (photos), Bataan, Benguet, Bulacan, Camarines Norte, Ifugao, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, NCR, Pampanga, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, Zambales, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, Misamis Oriental (photos), South Cotabato, Zamboanga, MINDORO, ?PANAY, SAMAR. Notes: J.E.M. Villasis (31-May-26): also present in Panay. 0-1286m. Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1). Native.
   • ssp. diffusa. = Commelina luzonensis Elmer, LPB 9 (1934) 3184; Type: Elmer 22174 (K, NY, US, iso), Luzon: Pampanga, Camp Stotesnburg (Mt Pinatubo), thickets of moist ravines, 3500ft, 27-May-1927. Distribution: Pantropic. LUZON: Pampanga. Notes: Throughout the Philippines. Low and medium elevation grasslands, waste places, etc. Native.
4. Commelina suffruticosa Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae (1827) 3. Distribution: Bangladesh, China, India, Java, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand. CULION, PALAWAN. Notes: Record from Culion: Merrill 531, US. Native.
5. Commelina undulata R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. (1810) 270; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 195. Distribution: Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indian Ocean, Moluccas, Pakistan, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Vietnam. LUZON: NCR. Notes: Record from Luzon: Loher s.n., US. Native.

Incertae sedis

1. Commelina chamissonis Klotzsch ex C.B.Clarke, Monogr. Phan. 3 (1881) 186; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 195. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. Notes: “The type is a specimen from Luzon, collected by Chamisso, probably from either Cavite or Batangas Province or possibly from the vicinity of Manila. I have seen no specimens I can with certainty refer to it, but some may have been distributed sub C. nudiflora L.” Merr. (1922: 195). Native.

Possibly present

1. Commelina ensifolia R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. (1810) 269. Distribution: Australia, India, New Guinea, ?Philippines, Sri Lanka. ?BATAN, ?LUZON: ?Rizal. Notes: Possibly represented in the Philippines by Mendoza PNH20449 (PNH) from Rizal, and Quisumbing, Del Rosario & Gutierrez PNH79473 (PNH) from Batan Isl. 200m.

Cyanotis D.Don

1. Cyanotis axillaris (L.) D.Don ex Sweet, Hort. Brit. (Sweet), 1st Ed. (1826) 430; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 140; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 198; ≡ Amischophacelus axillaris (L.) R.S.Rao & Kammathy, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 59 (1966) 306; ≡ Commelina axillaris L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 42. Distribution: Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Java, Laos, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Vietnam. BALABAC, BOHOL, CEBU, LUZON: Bataan, Kalinga, Laguna, NCR, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, MASBATE, MINDANAO: Davao, MINDORO, NEGROS, PALAWAN, PANAY, SAMAR. Notes: Throughout the Philippines in most islands and provinces. Low to medium elevation in clearings, open places along streams, rice paddies, etc. 5m. Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1). Native.
2. Cyanotis ciliata (Blume) Bakh.f., Blumea 6 (1950) 399; ≡ Belosynapsis ciliata (Blume) R.S.Rao, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 25 (1964) 187; ≡ Tradescantia ciliata Blume, Cat. Gew. Buitenzorg (1823) 61. = Cyanotis capitata (Blume) C.B.Clarke, Monogr. Phan. 3 (1881) 243; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 198; ≡ Tradescantia capitata Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae (1827) 6. Distribution: China, India, Japan, Java, New Guinea, Philippines, Taiwan. BASILAN, CAGAYAN DE SULU, CEBU, LEYTE, LUZON: Abra (photos), Bataan, Benguet, Ifugao, Laguna, Pampanga (photos), Rizal, Sorsogon, MINDANAO: Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Misamis Oriental (photos), Zamboanga, Zamboanga del Norte (photos), Zamboanga del Sur, MINDORO, PALAWAN, PANAY, SAMAR. Notes: 100-1300m. Native.
3. Cyanotis cristata (L.) D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. (1825) 46; Roem. & Schult., Syst. 72 (1830) 1150; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 140; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 198; ≡ Commelina cristata L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 42. Distribution: India, Indian Ocean to Malesia. BASILAN, LUZON: Bataan, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Laguna, NCR, Pampanga (photos), Pangasinan, Rizal, Zambales, MINDORO, PALAWAN (photos), PANAY (photos). Notes: In most or all provinces in Luzon. Old clearings, open places along streams, about cliffs, etc. At low and medium elevation. 60-400m. Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1). Native.
4. Cyanotis moluccana (Roxb.) Merr., PJS 2c (1907) 266; Fl. Manila (1912) 139; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 199; ≡ Belosynapsis moluccana (Roxb.) C.E.C.Fisch., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1928 (1928) 406; ≡ Commelina moluccana Roxb., Fl. Ind. (Carey & Wallich) 1 (1820) 176. Distribution: Borneo, Java, Moluccas, Philippines. JOLO, LEYTE, LUZON: Bataan, Ifugao, Laguna, Mountain Province, NCR, Pampanga, Rizal, Sorsogon, MINDANAO, MINDORO. Notes: Low and medium elevation, on boulders in ravines, along small streams, etc. Native.
5. Cyanotis pedunculata Merr., PJS 10c (1915) 266. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. LEYTE. Notes: 500m. Native.

Dichorisandra J.C.Mikan (Not native)

1. Dichorisandra thyrsiflora J.C.Mikan, Del. Fl. Faun. Bras. (1820) 3. Distribution: S America. LUZON: Batangas (photos). Notes: Samuel C. Brillo (14-Jul-24): Possibly escaped from cultivation and naturalized between a forest edge and a resort. Naturalized in Java. Naturalized.

Floscopa Lour.

1. Floscopa scandens Lour., Fl. Cochinch. (1790) 193; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 199. Distribution: Andaman Isls, Australia, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China, India, Java, Laos, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicobar Isls, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam. BASILAN, BILIRAN, CALAMIANES, CULION, LEYTE, LUZON: Abra (photos), Albay, Bataan, Benguet, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines, Camarines Sur, Laguna (photos), Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, MINDORO, NEGROS (photos), PALAWAN (photos), SAMAR, SIBUYAN. Notes: N Luzon to the Calamianes and Mindanao, in most or all islands and provinces. In wet places along small streams at low and medium elevation. 0-700m (photos). Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1). Native.

Murdannia Royle

1. Murdannia edulis (Stokes) Faden, Taxon 29 (1980) 77; ≡ Commelina edulis Stokes, Bot. Mat. Med. 1 (1812) 184. Distribution: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Java, Java Sea, Laos, Lesser Sunda Isls, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. LUZON: NCR, Pangasinan, Rizal. Notes: Lowlands, in shaded places along streams. Native.
2. Murdannia gigantea (Vahl) G.Brückn., Nat. Pflanzenfam. (Engler & Prantl), 2nd Ed. 15a (1930) 173; ≡ Commelina gigantea Vahl, Enum. Pl. (Vahl) 2 (1805) 177. Distribution: Andaman Isls, Australia, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, India, Java, Madagascar, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam. MINDANAO: Bukidnon, PALAWAN, SEMIRARA. Notes: Low and medium elevation open grasslands. Native.
3. Murdannia loriformis (Hassk.) R.S.Rao & Kammathy, Bull. Bot. Surv. India 3 (1962) 393; ≡ Aneilema loriforme Hassk., Pl. Jungh. (1852) 143. Distribution: Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Java, New Guinea, Pacific Ocean, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam. LEYTE, LUZON: Abra (photos), Apayao (photos), MINDANAO: Davao, MINDORO (photos), NEGROS. Notes: 900m (photos). Native.
4. Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan, Kew Bull. 7 (1952) 189; Raganas et al., Biodiversitas 26 (2025) 1194; ≡ Commelina nudiflora L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 41. Distribution: Andaman Isls, Australia, Bangladesh, Bismarck Arch, Borneo, Cambodia, China, India, Java, Laos, Lesser Sunda Isls, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Nicobar Isls, Pacific Ocean, Pakistan, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam. BUSUANGA, LUZON: Abra (photos), MINDANAO: Davao del Norte, PALAWAN. Notes: Invasive species (CABI 2017). Throughout the Philippines. In open grasslands, waste places, etc. Common. Sea level and low and medium elevation. 50-1100m (photos). Naturalized.
5. Murdannia spectabilis (Kurz) Faden, Taxon 29 (1980) 74; ≡ Aneilema spectabile Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 40 (1871) 77. Distribution: Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam. LUZON: Bulacan, SEMIRARA. Notes: Low elevation open wet grasslands. Native.
6. Murdannia spirata (L.) G.Brückn., Nat. Pflanzenfam. (Engler & Prantl), 2nd Ed. 15a (1930) 173; ≡ Commelina spirata L., Mant. Pl. Altera (1771) 176. Distribution: Andaman Isls, Bangladesh, China, India, Java, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Vietnam. Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1). Native.
   • var. spirata. Notes: According to Merrill (1922), credited to the Philippines by C.B. Clarke on the basis of a specimen collected by Baume (P) from Luzon: Laguna de Bay. “This specimen may be A[neilema] malabaricum (L.) Merr., or I may have included A. spiratum R.Br. in my conception of A. malabaricum (L.) Merr.”. Native.
7. Murdannia vaginata (L.) G.Brückn., Nat. Pflanzenfam. (Engler & Prantl), 2nd Ed. 15a (1930) 173; ≡ Commelina vaginata L., Mant. Pl. Altera (1771) 177. Distribution: Andaman Isls, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Java, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam. LUZON: NCR, MINDORO, NEGROS. Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1). Native.
   • var. vaginata. Distribution: NEGROS. Native.
8. Murdannia versicolor (Dalzell) G.Brückn., Nat. Pflanzenfam. (Engler & Prantl), 2nd Ed. 15a (1930) 173; ≡ Aneilema versicolor Dalzell, Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 3 (1851) 136. Distribution: India, Philippines, Vietnam. CULION, JOLO, LUZON: NCR, Nueva Vizcaya, Rizal, ?MINDANAO: ?Zamboanga del Norte (photos), MINDORO (photos), PANAY (photos). Notes: Lowlands. Open wet grasslands, fallow rice paddies, etc. 600-870m. Native.

Pollia Thunb.

1. Pollia macrophylla (R.Br.) Benth., Fl. Austral. 7 (1878) 90; ≡ Aneilema macrophyllum R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. (1810) 270. = Aclisia cumingiana Hassk., Commelin. Ind. (1870) 47. Distribution: Australia, New Guinea, Philippines, Sulawesi. LUZON: Bataan, Batangas, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Laguna, Nueva Vizcaya, Pampanga, Quezon, Rizal, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Davao, Davao del Sur, NEGROS (photos), SAMAR. Native.
2. Pollia secundiflora (Blume) Bakh.f., Bekn. Fl. Java 211 (1949) 10; Type: from Indonesia. = Pollia sorzogonensis (E.Mey.) Steud., Nomencl. Bot. (Steudel), 2nd Ed. 2 (1841) 368; ≡ Aclisia sorzogonensis E.Mey., Reliq. Haenk. 1 (1827) 138. Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Java, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. BASILAN, BATAN, BILIRAN, CAOHAGAN DE SAMAR, CEBU, JOLO, LEYTE, LUZON: Albay, Batangas, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, La Union, Laguna, NCR, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, Zambales, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Davao, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Zamboanga, Zamboanga del Sur, MINDORO, NEGROS, PALAWAN, PANAY, SAMAR, SIASI. Notes: Luzon (Cagayan) to Palawan and Mindanao. Low and medium elevation forests. 0-976m. Native.
3. Pollia thyrsiflora (Blume) Steud., Nomencl. Bot. (Steudel), 2nd Ed. 2 (1841) 368; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 195; ≡ Tradescantia thyrsiflora Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae (1827) 6; Type: from Indonesia. = Pollia philippinensis Elmer, LPB 1 (1908) 275; Type: Elmer 9162, Luzon: Tayabas, Lucban, May-1907. Distribution: Andaman Isls to Java and Sulawesi. BALABAC, BASILAN, CAMIGUIN (photos), CEBU, LEYTE, LUZON: Abra, Albay, Apayao, Aurora (photos), Bulacan (photos), Cagayan, Camarines Sur (photos), Laguna, Quezon, Sorsogon, Zambales, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro (photos), Davao del Sur, Misamis Oriental (photos), Surigao del Sur (photos), Zamboanga del Norte, MINDORO, NEGROS, PALAWAN, PANAY, POLILLO, SAMAR. Notes: Luzon (Cagayan to Sorsogon) to Palawan and Mindanao. Lowland and medium elevation forests. 50m (photos) to 150-2500m. Native.

Excluded

1. Pollia sumatrana Hassk., Commelin. Ind. (1870) 56. Notes: Note by P.B. Pelser (1-Apr-14): the name Pollia sumatrana Hassk. has been incorrectly applied to Philippine plants according to LaFrankie (pers. comm. 2014).

Rhopalephora Hassk.

1. Rhopalephora scaberrima (Blume) Faden, Phytologia 37 (1977) 480; ≡ Commelina scaberrima Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae (1827) 4. Distribution: Himalayas to Malesia, Philippines. LUZON: Rizal. Native.
2. Rhopalephora vitiensis (Seem.) Faden, Biosyst. Study Gen. Aneilema (Commelinaceae) 2 (1975) 395; ≡ Aneilema vitiense Seem., Bonplandia (1861) 260; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 197. = Aneilema vitiense var. petiolata C.B.Clarke, Monogr. Phan. 3 (1881) 220; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 197. Distribution: Pacific Ocean, Philippines. CEBU, LEYTE, LUZON: Benguet, Cagayan, Laguna, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Sorsogon, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental (photos), MINDORO, NEGROS, PALAWAN, PANAY. Notes: Luzon (Cagayan) to Palawan and Mindanao, in most islands and provinces. Lowlands and medium elevation, ascending to 800m (photos) to 1400m, shaded ravines along creek gullies. 700m. Native.

Tradescantia L. (Not native)

1. Tradescantia spathacea Sw., Prodr. (Swartz) (1788) 57; ≡ Rhoeo spathacea (Sw.) Stearn, Baileya 5 (1957) 195. = Rhoeo discolor (L'Hér.) Hance, Ann. Bot. Syst. 3 (1853) 660; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 139; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 195; ≡ Tradescantia discolor L'Hér., Sert. Angl. (1789) 8. Distribution: America. DINAGAT (photos). Notes: Now widely cultivated in the tropics, easily escaping and often becoming naturalized. Naturalized.
2. Tradescantia zebrina Bosse, Vollst. Handb. Bl.-gärtn., 2nd Ed. 4 (1849) 655; Type: not known, based on material cultivated in Europe. Distribution: Neotropics. MINDORO (photos), SAMAR. Notes: Invasive species (CABI 2017). Naturalized.
   • var. zebrina; Delos Angeles et al. in Ramamoorthy et al., Plant Diversity in Biocultural Landscapes (2023) 224. = Tradescantia pendula (Schnizl.) D.R.Hunt, Kew Bull. 36 (1981) 197; ≡ Zebrina pendula Schnizl., Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 7 (1849) 870.; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 140; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 199. Distribution: Neotropics. SAMAR. Notes: Introduced from tropical America and cultivated as an ornamental, now more or less established in coconut groves, etc. at medium elevation. Wandering Jew. Naturalized.

Cultivated, not naturalized

1. Tradescantia pallida (Rose) D.R.Hunt, Kew Bull. 30 (1975) 452; ≡ Setcreasea pallida Rose, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 13 (1911) 294. = Setcreasea purpurea Boom, Acta Bot. Neerl. 4 (1955) 167; Type: from Mexico. Distribution: America. Notes: Widely grown as an ornamental in the tropics. Not naturalized? Cultivated, not naturalized.

Tricarpelema J.K.Morton

1. Tricarpelema philippense (Panigrahi) Faden, Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 76 (1991) 153; ≡ Dictyospermum philippense Panigrahi, Phytologia 29 (1974) 338. = Aneilema humile Merr., PJS 13c (1918) 4, nom. illeg., non Warb.; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 196; Type: Merrill 10459. Distribution: Borneo, Philippines, Sumatra. ALABAT, LUZON: Camarines Sur. Notes: Lowland forests on wet slopes. Native.