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Murdannia sp.
| Family Name: | Commelinaceae |
This species of Murdannia is a perennial, herbaceous plant with slender, strap-like leaves, and purple zygomorphic flowers that blooms in the morning and closes shortly after noon. Growing up to 1.3 m tall when in flower, this plant does best planted in the ground under sunny condtions and moderate watering.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Grassy |
Biogeography
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
|---|---|
| Preferred Climate Zone | Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows up to 50 cm tall, or 1.3 m tall when in flower. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The leaves are linear in shape, green with a purple margin, and folded upwards, being v-shaped in cross-section. There are two types of leaves: radical leaves borne at the plant's base, which are 20 - 40 cm long by 1 - 3 cm wide, and cauline leaves borne on flowering stem, which are 10 - 20 cm long by 1 - 1.5 cm wide. The leaves are sheathed and in an alternate arrangement. |
| Stems | The flowering stem can reach up to 1 m tall, with swollen nodes and a greyish-purple coating. |
| Flowers | The inflorescence is a racemose panicle with several flower buds at the tips. Only one flower is opened at each tip at a time. The flower has three semi-translucent oblong sepals, three purple ovate petals; one at the top and two on either side, two purple stamens with bearded filaments, a purple bearded appendage, three yellow staminodes (sterile stamens), and a thin dark-purple pistil. The flowers open in the morning and closes past noon. |
| Fruit | The fruit is an ellipsoid capsule (a type of dry, dehiscent fruit), filled with prickle-covered seeds. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Clear, sticky sap is present when injured. |
| Cultivation | It grows best in fertile, well-draining soil, and bright, direct sunlight. It can be propagated by seeds and division. |
| Etymology | The genus Murdannia is named after Murdan Aly, an Indian plant collector and botanist. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens, Container Planting |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast to Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Low |
| Propagation Method | Division, Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Green - Bluish Green, Purple |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Thick |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Sessile |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Linear) |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Clasping |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth, Thin |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
| Inflorescence Type | Panicle |
| Ovary Position | Superior / Hypogynous |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Opening Time | Daytime |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant | One day |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant - Remarks | Only one flower is open at each end of the tips and will close after noon. |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown, Black |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Black |
| Mature Seed Texture(s) | Bumpy / Tuberculate |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Moderate (6-10) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 34492 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8905 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
