Weed Herbarium

Department of Agronomy

Bangladesh Agricultural University

Kanaibashi

Common Name: Wandering Jew
Scientific Name: Commelina benghalensis L.
Family Name: Commelinaceae
Type: Broad leaf

Identification Notes

Commelina benghalensis Photo 1
Commelina benghalensis Photo 1
Commelina benghalensis Photo 2
Commelina benghalensis Photo 3
EPPO Code
COMBE
Life Cycle
Perennial herb but can grow as an annual in more temperate climates.
Morphology
Stem: Ascendent or prostrate, dichotomously branched, somewhat fleshy, much rooted, cylindrical, massive, hairy; Leaves: simple helically arranged, parallel-veined, distinctly petioled, ovate, ovate-elliptic to elliptic; base obtuse or acute, sheathing; Flowers: zygomorphic, in stalked, hairy, 2-armed cincinni (bostryx); Fruit: Capsule; Seed: oblong, grey-black, strongly ribbed-wrinkled.
Growing season
January - December
Germination period
April to October
Flowering period
January - December
Propagation
Seeds and Stolon fragments, hydrochorous
Habitat
Benghal dayflower can grow in a wide variety of soil types but is most common and problematic in areas with moist and fertile soil. Benghal dayflower is usually not an issue in container-grown plants. In nurseries, it can be especially problematic in irrigation ditch banks and in areas that are irrigated. It can form dense stands in landscape beds, agricultural fields, roadsides, and other disturbed sites. It grows best in full sun but can also grow in shaded areas and is a common issue in shaded cut-foliage production areas and ferneries.
Weed potential
It is a weed in 25 crops in 28 countries.
Control measure
Manual or Chemical control
Recommended herbicide
2, 4-D (1.4 - 2.8 kg/ha), metribuzin (2.5 - 3 kg / ha), glyphosate (1.8 - 2 kg/ ha)
Distribution
C. benghalensis is a weed of the tropics and subtropics. It is widely distributed in West Africa, East Africa, Central, Southern and South-East Asia extending as far as Japan, the Philippines and Australia (Holm et al., 1977). It is reported as a serious and troublesome weed in most arable crops in the Eastern and Southern African countries, but only sporadically in the Americas.
Medicinal properties
-
References
  1. Holm, L. G., Plucknett, D. L., Pancho, J. V., & Herberger, J. P. (1977). The world's worst weeds. Distribution and biology. University Press of Hawaii.