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| Scientific Name | Tinantia anomala (Commelinantia anomala) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | TIAN |
| Common Name | False Dayflower, Widow's Tears | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 39155 |
| Family | Commelinaceae (Spiderwort) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Moist, gravelly limestone soils in shaded areas, ravines, streamsides, wooded areas. Plant: Erect leafy annual, with clustered stems becoming much-branched and spreading; about 2 feet tall. Leaves: Basal leaves 4 to 13 inches long, linear-spatulate with tapering base and long petioles; upper stem leaves broadly to narrowly lanceolate and sessile to clasping, 2 to 4 inches long; single uppermost leaf subtends the inflorescence. Inflorescence: A scorpioid raceme of flowers, each up to 1-1/2 inches across, with two prominent large blue petals and one small white inconspicuous petal beneath the stamens; upper 3 stamens have fuzzy ball-like anthers with yellow and purple hairs, lower 3 stamens with white filaments and yellow anthers; stigma looks much like one of the stamens. Bloom Period: April to July. References: "Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country" by Marshall Enquist and "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston. Notes: None of the image below show more than one flower in the inflorescence, but buds are present below. The rare white variety was found at Mayfield Park in Austin. |
BONAP Distribution Map |
Texas Status: Native Endemic |
