Commelina benghalensis

Commelina benghalensis, commonly known as the Benghal dayflower, tropical spiderwort, or wandering Jew, kanshira in Bengali, is a perennial herb native to tropical Asia and Africa. It has been widely introduced to areas outside its native range, including to the neotropics, Hawaii, the West Indies and to both coasts of North America. It has a long flowering period, from spring to fall in subtropical areas, and throughout the year closer to the equator. It is often associated with disturbed soils. In both it native range and areas where it has been introduced it is usually considered a weed, sometimes a serious one. In the United States it has been placed on the Federal Noxious Weed List. It is considered a moderate weed of rice cultivation in Asia. In its native range of sub-Saharan Africa, India, Sri Lanka, and much of Southeast Asia, it is considered a serious weed of an enormous range of crops from tea and coffee to cassava and peanuts. Additional agricultural damage is caused by the fact that it can host the nematode Meloidogyne incognita and the Groundnut rosette virus. In China it is used as a medicinal herb that is said to have diuretic, febrifugal and anti-inflammatory effects, while in Pakistan it is used to cure swellings of the skin, leprosy and as a laxative.

Description

A slender, juicy, creeping herb, often with hairs. It has underground branches, as well as branches on the ground surface. Plants continue to grow from year to year. Plants are only about 25 cm high but can spread quite widely. It has roots at the nodes. The leaves are oval, and pointed at both ends. They are wavy along the edge, and 4 to 7 cm long. The leaf clasps the stem. The flowers are blue, with three petals 3 to 4 mm long. The flowers are produced in the axils of the upper leaves during summer. The fruit have 3 cavities, with 2 seeds in 2 of them and one seed in the other. The seeds are about 2 mm long.

Edible Uses

The young leaves are eaten cooked as a vegetable, potherb, or fried, and can be stored for 4-5 days. Leaves are also boiled in water and eaten with salt and chilli peppers. The seeds are ground into flour and made into bread. The starchy rhizomes and roots are cooked and eaten, particularly as a famine food.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves are eaten cooked as a vegetable. They are also used as a potherb. They are also fried. The leaves boiled in water and eaten mixed with salt and chilli peppers. The seeds are ground into flour and made into bread. The starchy rhizomes are cooked and eaten. The young leaves can be stored for 4-5 days.

Medicinal Uses

In China, the plant is used medicinally as a diuretic, febrifuge and anti-inflammatory. In Pakistan it is used as animal fodder and also eaten by humans as a vegetable. It is also used there medicinally, but with different purported effects, including as a laxative and to cure inflammations of the skin as well as leprosy. The people of Nepal eat the young leaves as a vegetable, use a paste derived from the plant to treat burns, and treat indigestion with a juice produced from the roots. Its use as a famine food in India has been recorded. In southeast Asia and Africa it is used as fodder and also medicinally as a poultice.

Known Hazards

This plant has low palatability and is only rarely eaten as a very minor vegetable. It easily becomes established as a weed.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows most commonly in fertile soils under humid conditions throughout the tropics. It is common in waste places, near settlements, at low and medium altitudes throughout the islands of the Philippines. It grows from sea level to 2300 m altitude, in China. In Nepal it grows between 900-2000 m altitude. It grows in moist places. It grows in wetlands. It can grow in arid places. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, American Samoa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Northeastern India, NW India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Sahel, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Uganda, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed.

Propagation

Seed - Stem cuttings Root cuttings

Other Uses

A dye is obtained from the sap in the flowers.

Production

Leaves are collected during the early flush of the rainy season.

Other Information

It is only rarely eaten. It is a very minor vegetable. It has low palatability. The roots and tubers are cooked as a famine food.

Notes

There are about 230 Commelina species. It easily becomes established as a weed.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Addo arxa, Alikbangon, Amala, Androko, A wei ya mo, Bakna, Ban kane, Bat baitta shak, Biasbias, Bokna, Bondium, Brambangan, Buchna, Chhura, Chura, Corogoma, Damba, Dzadza, Ekoropot, Ennadri, Fan bao cao, Geneya, Gewor, Guredural, Hairy wandering Jew, Holagabis, Ikengera, Itula, Jawarzaal, Jwaray, Kafura, Kana ara, Kana keerai, Kanangakarai, Kanavazhai, Kanchara, Kanchata, Kanchira, Kandhara, Kane jhar, Kane sag, Kani, Kaniseera, Kanjura, Kanna-manna, Kannae, Kanshira, Kansira, Kansiri, Kanteri, Kanuraka, Kanya sag, Kaua-kaini, Kena, Kenar, Keniyu, Kerina, Kermuw, Kolar, Kona simolu, Kona simulu, Korogwa, Kurveng, Leng, Lolo, Mpovupovu, Myit-cho, Nnanda ennene, Narray, Nhkongo, Nkongo, Odielo, Oolooh-ooloohan, Orandi, Pak prap, Petoongan, Petungan, Portotion, Sabilau, Surung, Tali korang, Tamba-gangala, Telka bhaji, Thenga puttu keerai, Vennadevikura, Wangden-khoibi, Wetkyok, Wohaankkur, Yekola wonfankur, Zobut

References (133)

• Acharya K. P. and Acharya, R., 2010, Eating from the Wild: Indigenous knowledge on wild edible plants in Parroha VDC of Rupandehi District, Central Nepal. International Journal of Social Forestry. 3(1):28-48
• Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
• Addis, G., et al, 2013, The Role of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants in Household Food Sovereignty in Hamer and Konso Communities, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research & Applications. 11:251-271
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 138
• Ara, R. I. T., 2015, Leafy Vegetables in Bangladesh. Photon eBooks. p 125

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