Commelinaceae

Amischotolype Hassk.

1. Amischotolype hispida (A.Rich.) D.Y.Hong, Act. Phytotax. Sin. 12 (1974) 461; ≡ Forrestia hispida A.Rich. in d'Urv., Voy. Astrolabe 2 (1834) 2; Type: from New Guinea. = Forrestia hispida var. philippinensis (Merr.) Merr., EPFP 1 (1922) 197; ≡ Forrestia philippinensis Merr., Publ. Bur. Sci. Gov. Lab. 35 (1905) 5; Type: Merrill 4051 (PNH, holo; K, photo iso). Distribution: China, Indochina, Java, New Guinea, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Taiwan. BASILAN, CATANDUANES, CEBU, LEYTE, LUZON: Albay, Camarines, Laguna, Quezon, Sorsogon, MINDANAO: Agusan, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Davao, Davao del Sur, Lanao, Surigao, Surigao del Sur, MINDORO, NEGROS, PANAY, POLILLO, SAMAR. Notes: Low and medium elevation forests, thickets and old clearings at the vicinity of primary forests. 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.

Belosynapsis Hassk.

1. Belosynapsis ciliata (Blume) R.S.Rao, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 25 (1964) 187; ≡ Cyanotis ciliata (Blume) Bakh.f., Blumea 6 (1950) 399; ≡ Tradescantia ciliata Blume, Catalogus (1823) 61. = Cyanotis capitata (Blume) C.B.Clarke in DC., Monog. Phan. 3 (1881) 243; Merr., EPFP 1 (1922) 198; ≡ Tradescantia capitata Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae 1 (1827) 6. Distribution: China, India, Japan, Java, New Guinea, Philippines, Taiwan. BASILAN, CAGAYAN DE SULU, CEBU, LEYTE, LUZON: Bataan, Benguet, Laguna, Rizal, Sorsogon, MINDANAO: Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Zamboanga, Zamboanga del Sur, MINDORO, PALAWAN, PANAY, SAMAR. Native.
2. Belosynapsis moluccana (Roxb.) C.E.C.Fisch., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew (1928) 406; ≡ Cyanotis moluccana (Roxb.) Merr., PJS 2 c (1907) Bot. 266; Fl. Manila (1912) 139; EPFP 1 (1922) 199; ≡ Commelina moluccana Roxb., Fl. Ind. 1 (1820) 176. Distribution: Borneo, Java, Moluccas, Philippines. JOLO, LEYTE, LUZON: Bataan, Ifugao, Laguna, Mountain Province, Pampanga, Rizal, Sorsogon, MINDANAO, MINDORO. Notes: Low and medium elevation, on boulders in ravines, along small streams, etc. Native.

Commelina L.

1. Commelina benghalensis L., Sp. Pl. (1753) 41; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 138; EPFP 1 (1922) 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: Cavite, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Laguna, Mountain Province, NCR, MINDANAO: Bukidnon, South Cotabato, PALAWAN. Notes: Throughout the Philippines. Lowland and medium elevation grasslands, waste places in the settled areas. Often common. 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. (1768) 18. Distribution: BASILAN, CEBU, LEYTE, LUZON: Bataan, Benguet, Bulacan, Ifugao, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, NCR, Pampanga, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, Zambales, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, Davao, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Zamboanga, MINDORO. 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. Naturalized.
4. Commelina suffruticosa Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae 1 (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. (1810) 270; Merr., EPFP 1 (1922) 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 in DC., Monog. Phan. 3 (1881) 186; Merr., EPFP 1 (1922) 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.

Cyanotis D.Don

1. Cyanotis axillaris (L.) D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. (1825) 46; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 140; EPFP 1 (1922) 198; ≡ Amischophacelus axillaris (L.) R.S.Rao & Kammathy, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 59 (1966) 306; ≡ Commelina axillaris L., Sp. Pl. (1753) 42. Distribution: Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Java, Laos, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Vietnam. BOHOL, LUZON: Bataan, Laguna, NCR, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, MASBATE, MINDANAO: Davao, MINDORO, NEGROS, PALAWAN, PANAY. Notes: Throughout the Philippines in most islands and provinces. Low to medium elevation in clearings, open places along streams, rice paddies, etc. Native.
2. Cyanotis cristata (L.) D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. (1825) 46; Roem. & Schult., Syst. 72 (1830) 1150; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 140; EPFP 1 (1922) 198; ≡ Commelina cristata L., Sp. Pl. (1753) 42. Distribution: India, Indian Ocean to Malesia. BASILAN, LUZON: Bataan, Benguet, Laguna, NCR, Pangasinan, Rizal, MINDORO. Notes: In most or all provinces in Luzon. Old clearings, open places along streams, about cliffs, etc. At low and medium elevation. Native.
3. Cyanotis pedunculata Merr., PJS c 10 (1915) 266. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. LEYTE. Native.

Floscopa Lour.

1. Floscopa scandens Lour., Fl. Cochinch. (1790) 193; Merr., EPFP 1 (1922) 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: Bataan, Benguet, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines, Camarines Sur, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, MINDANAO: Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, MINDORO, 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. 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., ed. 2 15a (1930) 173; ≡ Commelina gigantea Vahl, Enum. Pl. Obs. 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. in Miq., Pl. Jungh. (1852) 143. Distribution: Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Java, New Guinea, Pacific Ocean, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam. LEYTE, MINDANAO: Davao, NEGROS. Native.
4. Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan, Kew Bull. 7 (1952) 189; ≡ Commelina nudiflora L., Sp. Pl. (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. Notes: Throughout the Philippines. Low and medium elevation, in open grasslands, waste places, etc. Common. Invasive species (CABI 2017). 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., ed. 2 15a (1930) 173; ≡ Commelina spirata L., Mant. Pl. 2 (1771) 176. Distribution: Andaman Isls, Bangladesh, China, India, Java, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Vietnam. 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., ed. 2 15a (1930) 173; ≡ Commelina vaginata L., Mant. Pl. 2 (1771) 177. Distribution: Andaman Isls, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Java, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam. LUZON: NCR, MINDORO, NEGROS. Native.
   • var. vaginata. Distribution: NEGROS. Native.
8. Murdannia versicolor (Dalzell) G.Brückn., Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2 15a (1930) 173; ≡ Aneilema versicolor Dalzell, Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 3 (1851) 136. Distribution: India, Philippines, Vietnam. CULION, JOLO, LUZON: NCR, Rizal. Notes: Lowlands. Open wet grasslands, fallow rice paddies, etc. 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, SAMAR. Native.
2. Pollia secundiflora (Blume) Bakh.f. in Backer, Beknopte Fl. Java Afl. x a. Fam. 211 (1949) 10; Type: from Indonesia. = Pollia sorzogonensis (E.Mey.) Steud., Nomencl. Bot. ed. 2. 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, LEYTE, LUZON: Albay, Batangas, Bulacan, Cagayan, Cavite, Ilocos Norte, 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. Native.
3. Pollia thyrsiflora (Blume) Steud., Nomencl. ed. 2, 2 (1841) 368; Merr., EPFP 1 (1922) 195; ≡ Tradescantia thyrsiflora Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae 1 (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, CEBU, LEYTE, LUZON: Albay, Apayao, Cagayan, Laguna, Quezon, Sorsogon, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, MINDORO, NEGROS, PALAWAN, PANAY, POLILLO, SAMAR. Notes: Luzon (Cagayan to Sorsogon) to Palawan and Mindanao. Lowland and medium elevation forests. 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 1 (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., Fl. Vit. (1865-73) 314; Merr., EPFP 1 (1922) 197. = Aneilema vitiense var. petiolata C.B.Clarke in DC., Monog. Phan. 3 (1881) 220; Merr., EPFP 1 (1922) 197. Distribution: Pacific Ocean, Philippines. CEBU, LEYTE, LUZON: Benguet, Cagayan, Laguna, Quezon, Sorsogon, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, MINDORO, NEGROS, PALAWAN, PANAY. Notes: Luzon (Cagayan) to Palawan and Mindanao, in most islands and provinces. Lowlands and medium elevation, ascending to 1400m, shaded ravines along creek gullies. Native.

Tradescantia L. (Not native)

1. Tradescantia spathacea Sw., Prodr. (1788) 57; ≡ Rhoeo spathacea (Sw.) Stearn, Baileya 5 (1957) 195. = Rhoeo discolor (L'Hér.) Hance in Walp., Ann. Bot. Syst. 3 (1853) 660; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 139; EPFP 1 (1922) 195; ≡ Tradescantia discolor L'Hér., Sert. Angl. 8 (1789) t. 12. Distribution: America. Notes: Now widely cultivated in the tropics, easily escaping and often becoming naturalized. Naturalized.
2. Tradescantia zebrina Bosse, Vollst. Handb. Bl.-Gärtn., ed. 4 (1849) 655; Type: not known, based on material cultivated in Europe. Notes: Invasive species (CABI 2017). Naturalized.
   • var. zebrina. = Tradescantia pendula (Schnizl.) D.R.Hunt, Kew Bull. 36 (1981) 197; ≡ Zebrina pendula Schnizl., Bot. Zeit. 7 (1849) 870; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 140; EPFP 1 (1922) 199. Distribution: Neotropics. 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 Contrib. Bot. 76 (1991) 153; ≡ Dictyospermum philippense Panigrahi, Phytologia 29 (1974) 338. = Aneilema humile Merr., PJS 13 c (1918) Bot. 4, nom. illeg., non Warb.; EPFP 1 (1922) 196; Type: Merrill 10459. Distribution: Borneo, Philippines, Sumatra. ALABAT, LUZON: Camarines Sur. Notes: Lowland forests on wet slopes. Native.