Fauna
Flower

Whitemouth Dayflower

Commelina erecta

Also known as Slender Dayflower, Widow's Tears, Erect Dayflower

Whitemouth dayflower blooms for just a single morning, unfurling two vibrant sky-blue upper petals above a tiny, reduced white lower petal that gives the plant its name. Thriving in sandy, sun-drenched soils, this sprawling perennial anchors itself with thick, fleshy roots and often forms dense sprawling colonies. Specialized spathes enclose the delicate flower buds and collect morning dew, offering an early-day nectar stop for native sweat bees and bumblebees before the petals dissolve into jelly by midday.

PerennialWildflowerDrought Tolerant
Whitemouth Dayflower reference
(c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · cc-by
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil nutrients
Predators
  • White-tailed deer
  • Cottontail rabbit
  • Grasshopper
ThreatsHerbicide application, intensive land development, and invasive vegetation
HabitatsSandy prairies, open woodlands, coastal dunes, fields, and disturbed ground
Life spanPerennial (several years via rhizomes)
Classification
  1. OrderCommelinales
  2. FamilyCommelinaceae
  3. GenusCommelina
  4. SpeciesCommelina erecta
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Timing Your Search: Look early in the morning, as the delicate blue blossoms wither and liquefy by early afternoon.
  • Examining the Flower: Check beneath the two large blue petals to spot the minuscule white petal that confirms the species ID.
  • Habitat Clues: Search dry, sandy roadsides and open pine woods where thin soils prevent taller grasses from dominating.
Related species
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