keys to the vascular plants of east texas - Botanical Research ...

CALLISIA/COMMELINACEAE
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the Haemodoraceae and Pontederiaceae closer to Commelinaceae (Faden 1998). Recent molecular
studies (e.g., Chase et al. 2000) indicate the family is most closely related to Pontederiaceae.
(subclass Commelinidae—Cronquist; order Commelinales—APG II)
FAMILY RECOGNITION IN THE FIELD: herbs with succulent, mucilaginous stems with knotted
nodes and usually alternate, � basally sheathing leaves with strongly parallel veins; petals 3 (1
sometimes smaller), delicate, often blue.
REFERENCES: Woodson 1942; Brenan 1966; Tomlinson 1966; Poole & Hunt 1980; Faden 1983,
1985, 1992, 1998, 2000b, 2000c; Hunt 1986a; Tucker 1989; Faden & Hunt 1991; Evans 1995; Evans
et al. 2000a, 2000b, 2003.
1. Leaf blades 4 cm or less long (often much less); plant mat-forming, creeping; the three petals all
� similar, translucent white, 3–6 mm long, inconspicuous, lanceolate to narrowly oblong, without
an expanded blade; stigma bushy; filaments glabrous; introduced species rare in East TX,
known only from Walker Co. ___________________________________________________________ Callisia
1. Leaf blades usually � 4 cm long, often much longer; plant habit various; the three petals all �
similar OR not all alike, variously colored, with expanded blade, the larger ones 6–25 mm long
OR if smaller, then not translucent white; stigma not bushy; filaments glabrous OR pubescent;
including native and introduced species widespread and common in East TX.
2. Inflorescences immediately subtended only by an involucre of small bracteoles that fall off
early (but the elongate peduncles can arise from the axils of leaves); the three petals all �
similar, 3–3.5(–6) mm long; fertile stamens 2 (4 staminodes also present); introduced
species known in East TX only from the s margin of the Pineywoods ______________________ Murdannia
2. Inflorescences immediately subtended or enclosed by a single leafy bract (the bract sometimes
conspicuously folded) OR by 2(–3) leaf-like bracts with reduced sheaths but conspicuous
long blades; the three petals all � similar OR not all alike, the larger ones 6–25 mm long;
fertile stamens 3 or 6; native and introduced species widespread in East TX.
3. Inflorescences each subtended by 2(–3) leaf-like bracts with reduced sheaths but conspicuous
long blades; the 3 petals all � similar; fertile stamens 6, equal ________________ Tradescantia
3. Inflorescences each subtended or enclosed by a single leafy bract (the bract sometimes
conspicuously folded); the 3 petals not all alike, EITHER 2 larger and bluish and 1 one much
smaller and white (at least paler than the others) OR one petal slightly smaller than the
others; fertile stamens 3 (2–3 staminodes also present) OR 6 and unequal.
4. Bract enclosing inflorescence (spathe) folded, the two sides � parallel, 1.0–3.5 cm long,
conspicuously different in shape from stem leaves; fertile stamens 3 (2–3 staminodes
also present); filaments glabrous; petals (upper 2) clawed; foliage not glaucous; including
species widespread in East TX ____________________________________________ Commelina
4. Bract subtending inflorescence flat, not folded, 4–8 cm long, similar to upper stem leaves
but shorter and wider; fertile stamens 6; filaments (5 of the 6) bearded; petals not clawed;
foliage glaucous; species restricted to the sw portion of East TX _______________________ Tinantia
CALLISIA Loefl. ROSELING
AA mainly tropical American genus of 20 species, with the species quite variable vegetatively
(some with elongate grass-like leaves). Some are cultivated as ornamental ground covers or
hanging basket plants. (Greek: kallos, beauty or pretty, in reference to the attractive leaves)
REFERENCES: Hunt 1986b, 1994.
Callisia repens (Jacq.) L., (creeping), CREEPING INCHPLANT, BASKET PLANT, BOLIVIAN-JEW. Matforming,
creeping perennial rooting at the nodes, with flowering stems ascending; leaves 2ranked;
leaf blades 1–4 cm long, 1(–2) cm or less wide, sessile, glabrous except for ciliate margins,
somewhat fleshy; inflorescences sessile in axils of upper leaves, usually of pairs of sessile
cymes; bract solitary, inconspicuous; flowers both bisexual and pistillate, unscented, subsessile,