nakedstem dewflower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• nakedstem dewflower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aneilema nudiflorum var. compressum
• Aneilema nudicaule
• Commelina radicans
• Commelina nudiflora f. pilosissima
• Aneilema malabaricum f. ochroleucum
• Commelina nudiflora f. angustifolia
• Tradescantia malabarica
• Callisia parvula
• Aneilema lancifolium
• Aneilema radicans
• Aneilema trichocoleum
• Aneilema junghunianum
• Aneilema diversifolium
• Commelina minuta
• Commelina nudiflora
• Commelina nudicaulis
• Commelina chinensis
• Murdannia malabarica
• Murdannia malabarica var. compressa
• Stickmannia longicollis
• Stickmannia guyanensis
• Phaeneilema nudiflorum
• Aneilema compressum
• Aneilema bracteolatum var. majus
• Phaeneilema malabaricum
• Aneilema bracteolatum var. minus
• Phaeneilema diversifolium
• Aneilema malabaricum
• Aneilema minutum
• Cyanotis gueinzii
• Ditelesia nudiflora
• Aneilema foliosum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further categorized under the order Commelinares and the family Commelinaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Murdannia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide-ranging geographical distribution across several distinct tropical and subtropical regions. Within the Macaronesian islands, it can be found specifically in the Canary Islands and Madeira. Moving toward the African continent, its presence extends through West Tropical Africa, including Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Furthermore, the species reaches into West-Central Tropical Africa, where it is documented in the Congo. Consequently, its habitat spans from oceanic archipelagos to the diverse landscapes of the African mainland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Murdannia nudiflora is characterized by a broad altitudinal adaptability and a diverse range of environmental niches. It inhabits various ecosystems, including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the Caatinga (strictu sensu), Campo Limpo, and the Cerrado (lato sensu), demonstrating a high tolerance for different vegetation structures and disturbed landscapes. In terms of topography, the species exhibits a significant elevational range, extending from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2400 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1500 m AMSL. This wide distribution suggests an ability to thrive across both lowland tropical environments and higher-altitude montane regions.

Elevational range max:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Limpo, Cerrado (lato sensu)

Genetics

The genetics of Murdannia nudiflora are characterized by significant chromosomal variation, which suggests a complex evolutionary history potentially involving polyploidy or hybridization events. Cytological studies of this species reveal a diverse range of chromosome numbers, specifically documented as 20, 28, 30, and 56. This variation in the diploid and polyploid states indicates a high level of genomic plasticity within the species, where the presence of higher chromosome counts, such as 56, likely represents a doubling of the base genetic material. Such chromosomal fluctuations are critical to the plant's genetic architecture and may contribute to its adaptability across different ecological niches.

Chromosome number :

20, 28, 30, 56

Life history

The life history of Murdannia nudiflora is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural development and survival strategy, the species functions as a therophyte, completing its seasonal biological processes in a manner consistent with this life form. This growth habit is reflected in its classification across different botanical frameworks, where it is identified as a therophyte under both specific life form categorizations, indicating its ability to thrive through specialized reproductive or dormant cycles.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Murdannia nudiflora is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, typically exhibiting a low-growing stature with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.08 m to a maximum of 0.3 m. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a vine or liana, nor does it act as an obligatory or facultative climber. It is categorized as an independent organism rather than a parasite, maintaining a terrestrial existence that spans across aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial habitats. Furthermore, the plant is strictly terrestrial in its epiphytic status, lacking any holoepiphytic, hemiepiphytic, or facultative epiphytic tendencies.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height min:

0.08 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Murdannia nudiflora is characterized by its specialized vegetative morphology, which optimizes its surface area for light interception and gas exchange. The leaves exhibit a distinct dimensional range, with lengths varying from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 7 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation, the leaf width is relatively narrow, fluctuating between a minimum of 0.3 cm and a maximum of 0.8 cm. This specific leaf architecture, defined by a high length-to-width ratio, suggests a physiological adaptation to manage transpiration rates and light absorption within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

0.8 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Murdannia nudiflora is characterized by the development of specialized fruit structures that facilitate seed dispersal. The plant produces a capsule-type fruit, which is classified as a dehiscence-based structure, meaning it is dehiscence-oriented to release its contents upon maturity. These capsules are relatively small, with a minimum fruit length of 0.25 cm, a mean length of 0.35 cm, and a maximum length reaching up to 0.5 cm. Contained within these fruits are the seeds, which exhibit a specific size range; individual seeds measure a minimum of 1.3 mm in length and a maximum of 1.8 mm in length.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.35 cm

Fruit length min:

0.25 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Seed length max:

1.8 mm

Seed length min:

1.3 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Murdannia nudiflora has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Saponins, Steroids, Tannins, Terpenoids.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Saponins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Steroids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Terpenoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

phenol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

polyphenols

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)