Murdannia simplex (Vahl) Brenan

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Commelinaceae, J. P. M. Brenan. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:1. 1968

Morphology General Habit

A rather robust, erect or sprawling herb 6 in. to 4 ft. high

Morphology Leaves

Long lower leaves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicles of blue to mauve flowers opening in late afternoon evening, about 4-6.30 p.m.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Tufted to shortly rhizomatous perennial with erect to ascending or rarely decumbent shoots mostly 30–70 cm long, unbranched or branched near the base

Morphology Roots

Roots uniformly thickened, not tuberous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves spirally arranged or distichous, basal and cauline, widely spaced and strongly reduced upwards, the uppermost bract-like, on the flowering shoot, sheaths to 4 cm long, pilose to nearly glabrous, ciliate at the apex, blade linear to linear-oblong or lanceolate-oblong, (2–)4.5–45 x 0.4–1.7 cm, glabrous to pilose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences usually compound, composed of 2 or more thyrses, each thyrse composed of 1–3(–5) elongate, many-flowered cincinni; bracteoles elliptic, 3.5–6 mm long, soon falling

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers secund, bisexual and male; pedicels 4.5–8 mm long, erect in fruit, glabrous; sepals 4.5–7 mm long, glabrous; petals ovate-orbicular to ovate-elliptic or obovate-elliptic, c. 5.5–11 mm long, blue or mauve to lavender; stamens 2, filaments bearded; staminodes 4, 3 antepetalous with glabrous filaments and 3-lobed antherodes, 1 antesepalous with a bearded filament and unlobed antherode (or antherode lacking)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsules ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, apiculate, (3.5–)4–7.5 x 2.5–4 mm, glabrous, cells 2-seeded

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds uniseriate, transversely elliptic to elliptic or ovate, (1.1–)1.5–1.8 x 1.2–1.7 mm, testa brown, smooth to faintly ribbed, alveolate, or pitted, usually with whitish pustules.

Distribution

S3 (“Foolduqobe – Badade”) tropical Africa, tropical Asia and Madagascar

Commelinaceae, Robert Faden. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2012

Distribution

Range: Widespread in Africa from Sierra Leone to Somalia and south to South Africa; Madagascar, tropical Asia (but see note) Flora districts: U1 U2 U3 U4 K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T6 T7 T8 Z P