# Flora of New York/Commelinales, Zingiberales, Ceratophyllales

| ← Poales 4 | Flora of New York — Commelinales, Zingiberales, Ceratophyllales | Flora of New York — Commelinales, Zingiberales, Ceratophyllales | Flora of New York — Commelinales, Zingiberales, Ceratophyllales | Flora of New York — Commelinales, Zingiberales, Ceratophyllales | → Ranunculales |
| ← Poales 4 | Table of contents | Genus index | Protected species index | Invasive species index | → Ranunculales |
| commelinids | Arecales (palms, not naturalized in NY) Poales (grasses, rushes, sedges) Zingiberales (gingers, banana, unlikely naturalized in NY) Commelinales (spiderwort, water hyacinth) |

## Order Commelinales

* The Commelinales

### Family Commelinaceae

* The Commelinaceae (dayflower family).
* ↑ Commelinaceae Troy Weldy & David Werier (2013) New York Flora Atlas. New York Flora Association, Albany, New York.

#### Subamily Commelinoideae
##### Tribe Tradescanteae
###### Tradescantia

* Wild Flowers of New York Part 1, Plate 7. Spider Lily, Spiderwort - Tradescantia virginiana (1918)Spiderwort (Tradescantia) is a New World genus of herbaceous perennials, named by Carl Linnaeus in honor of John Tradescant the Elder (ca. 1570–1638). Although all spiderworts listed in New York are considered to be native to eastern North America, none are listed as New York natives by the New York Flora Atlas. However, Tradescantia ohiensis is listed as native in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts; and BONAP shows it native in New York.
Commelinales — Commelinaceae — Commelinoideae — Tradescanteae — Tradescantia :
| Genus Tradescantia | Spider wort | N.Y. Status | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Tradescantia ohiensis Raf.1814. Tradescantia ohiensis Raf. in Précis Découv. Somiol.:45 1832. Tradescantia canaliculata Raf. in Atlantic J. 1:150 1837. Tradescantia reflexa Raf. in New Fl. 2:87 1837. Tradescantia riparia Raf. in New Fl. 2:88 1897. Tradescantia foliosa Small in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 24:234 1903. Tradescantella incarnata (Small) Small in Fl. S.E. U.S.:1328 1905. Tradescantia difformis Bush in Rep. Missouri Bot. Gard. 1905:101 1935. Tradescantia paludosa E.S.Anderson & Woodson in Contr. Arnold Arbor. 1977. Tradescantia ohiensis var. foliosa (Small) MacRoberts in Phytologia 1979. Tradescantia ohiensis var. paludosa (E.S.Anderson & Woodson) MacRoberts | Ohio spiderwort, Bluejacket, Smooth spiderwort | Introduced from  eastern N. America, N. America native, Naturalized, SNA, G5 FACU-FAC Perennial, Herb-forb, Part Shade, 2n = 12, 24 | NYFA: 15 counties | USDA-NN POWO Go Botany ARS-GRIN FNAFNA BONAP LBJ Images Wikispecies |
| Tradescantia virginiana L.1753. Tradescantia virginiana L. | Virginia spiderwortÉphémère de Virginie | Introduced from  eastern N. America, N. America native, Naturalized | NYFA: X | USDA-NX Go Botany ARS-GRIN ITIS BONAP Images Wikispecies |
| Tradescantia ohiensis × virginiana  Tradescantia ohiensis ×   Tradescantia virginiana | Hybrid of  Ohio spiderwort &  Virginia spiderwort | Introduced from  eastern N. America, N. America native, Naturalized | NYFA: X | Images Wikispecies |
| Tradescantia occidentalis (Britton) Smyth var. occidentalis1896. Tradescantia virginiana  var. occidentalis  Britton 1899. Tradescantia occidentalis  var. occidentalis   1935. Tradescantia virginiana  var. typica  E.S.Anderson & Woodson | Prairie spider-wort, Western spiderwort | Introduced, N. America native, Impersistent | NYFA: Xm | USDA-NN ARS-GRIN FNA BONAP Images Wikispecies |
| Tradescantia subaspera Ker Gawl.1813. Tradescantia subaspera Ker Gawl. 1893. Tradescantia montana Shuttlew. ex Small & Vail 1935. Tradescantia subaspera  var. montana   E.S.Anderson & Woodson 1949. Tradescantia subaspera  ssp. montana   R.T.Clausen | Zigzag spiderwort | Introduced, N. America native, Impersistent | NYFA: Xm | USDA-N0 ARS-GRIN FNA BONAP Images Wikispecies |

##### Tribe Commelineae

* The Commelineae in New York include the dayflowers (Commelina spp.) and dewflowers (Murdannia spp.).

###### Commelina

* Commelina erecta L. slender or whitemouth dayflowerThe only dayflower (Commelina sp.) listed as native to New York is Commelina erecta (slender dayflower), which is thought to be extirpated from the state.
* The introduced Asiatic dayflower (Commelina communis) is fairly common in many parts of the state. It is reported to be invasive in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virgina, Virginia, and Kentucky.
* ↑ M.L. Fernald (1950). Gray's manual of botany, 8th ed. American Book Company, New York. p. 393. Lists C. erecta (typical) as present in southeastern New York.
* ↑ Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. July 10, 2018
Commelinales — Commelinaceae — Commelinoideae — Commelineae — Commelina :
| Genus Commelina | Dayflower | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Commelina erecta L. ssp. erecta1753. Commelina erecta  L. 1816. Commelina elegans  Kunth 1903. Commelina saxicola  Small | Slender dayflower ⓘ Erect dayflower ⓘ Whitemouth dayflower ⓘ Widow's tears ⓘ Common dayflower ⓘ | Native, CoC: 10, Extirpated, Impersistent, NYNHP: UPL-FAC Perennial, Herb-forb | | NYFA: Z NYFA: 1 county 0 counties | USDA-N0 POWO Go Botany-0 BONAP Images Wikispecies |
| Commelina communis L.1753. Commelina communis L. 1811. Commelina debilis Ledeb. 1843. Commelina willdenowii Kunth 1861. Commelina ludens Miq. 1881. Commelina communis  var. ludens  (Miq.) C.B. Clarke 1909. Commelina communis  var. angustifolia  Nakai 1910. Commelina coreana H.Lév. 1961. Commelina communis  f. aureostriata | Asian dayflower, Asiatic dayflower, Dayflower | Introduced from  temperate Asia, Potentially invasive, Naturalized Annual, Herb-forb | | NYFA: X NYFA: 0 counties iNat 0 counties | USDA-XX Go Botany ARS-GRIN ITIS Tropicos Images Wikispecies |
| Genus Commelina (excluded taxa) | Dayflower | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Commelina diffusa Burm.f. var. diffusa1768. Commelina diffusa Burm.f. | Climbing dayflower | N. America native, N.Y. excluded | | NYFA-Excluded NYFA: 0 counties 0 counties | USDA-N0 Go Botany Images Wikispecies |
| Commelina virginica L.1753. Commelina virginica L. | Virginia dayflower | N. America native, N.Y. excluded | | NYFA-Excluded NYFA: 0 counties 0 counties | USDA-N0 Images Wikispecies |
| ↑ New York Rare Plant Status Lists, December 2022: 2022 Rare Plant Status List - Active Inventory List: Commelina erecta Slender Dayflower: NEWY-X QUEE-? RICH-? G5 SX U ||||||

###### Murdannia

* Murdannia nudifloraOf the approximately 60 Murdannia species in the world, only about three are found outside of cultivation in North America, and only one has been collected in New York.
* Specimens of Murdannia nudiflora were collected in Bronx County in 2009 from the grounds of New York Botanical Garden propagation nursery. However, this is considered to be tropical plant, with reports rare north of North Carolina.
* Marsh dewflower (Murdannia keisak) has not been reported in New York, but it is prohibited in New York State and considered highly invasive.
* ↑ R. F. C. Naczi 12673 with Daniel E. Atha, 29 Oct 2009, Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan. New York Botanical Garden, C. V. Starr Virtual Herbarium.
* ↑ Marsh dewflower (Murdannia keisak), Invasive Species Management, Lower Hudson PRISM. (22 Jan 2025)
Commelinales — Commelinaceae — Commelinoideae — Commelineae — Murdannia :
| Genus Murdannia Royle (excluded species) | Dew-flower | N.Y. Status | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan1753. Commelina nudiflora L. in Sp. Pl.:41 1757. Commelina chinensis Osbeck in Dagb. Ostind. Resa:21 1762. Tradescantia malabarica L. in Sp. Pl., ed. 2.:412 1768. Commelina nudicaulis Burm.f. in Fl. Indica:17 1826. Aneilema nudiflorum (L.) Sweet in Hort. Brit.:430 1837. Ditelesia nudiflora (L.) Raf. in Fl. Tellur. 3: 69 1927. Phaeneilema nudiflorum (L.) G.Brückn. in Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 10:56 1930. Murdannia malabarica (L.) G.Brückn. in H.G.A.Engler, Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2. 15a:173 1952. Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan in Kew Bull. 7:189 | Nakedstem dewflower Nakedstemed dewflower Dove-weed | Introduced from  Asia, Not naturalized FAC | NYFA: Bronx (2009) iNat: No NY observations GBIF: Bronx (2009) | USDA-X0 POWO ARS-GRIN FNAFNA Tropicos BONAP Images Wikispecies |
| Murdannia keisak (Hassk.) Hand.-Maz.1870. Aneilema keisak Hassk. 1936. Murdannia keisak (Hassk.) in… | Wart-removing herb, Marsh dewflower, Asian spiderwort | Introduced from  Asia, Highly invasive,  NYIS: 78%, No NY reports | | USDA-X0 ARS-GRIN FNA Tropicos BONAP BUG Images Wikispecies |
| ↑ New York non-native plant invasiveness assessment – Murdannia keisak: High (78). ||||||

### Family Haemodoraceae

The Haemodoraceae (bloodwort family).

#### Subfamily Haemodoroideae
###### Lachnanthes

* Lachnanthes carolinianaThe genus Lachnanthes consists of the single species Carolina redroot or bloodroot (Lachnanthes caroliniana).
* ↑ Haemodoraceae Troy Weldy & David Werier (2013) New York Flora Atlas. New York Flora Association, Albany, New York.
Commelinales — Haemodoraceae — Haemodoroideae :
| Genus Lachnanthes | Redroot | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Lachnanthes caroliniana (Lam.) Dandy1791. Dilatris caroliniana  Lam. 1791. Heritiera tinctorium  Walter ex J.F.Gmel. 1812. Gyrotheca tinctoria  (Walter ex J.F.Gmel.) Salisb. 1814. Dilatris tinctoria  (Walter ex J.F.Gmel.) Pursh 1816. Lachnanthes tinctoria  (Walter ex J.F.Gmel.) Elliott 1932. Lachnanthes caroliana  (Lam.) Dandy | Carolina redroot, Carolina bloodroot, Red-root, Paint-root, Dye-rootLachnanthe de Caroline | Native, CoC: 10, Endangered, S1, G4, NYNHP: 1 OBL Perennial, Herb-forb | | Suffolk NYFA: 1 | USDA-NN Go Botany VASCAN ARS-GRIN ITIS Tropicos BONAP LBJ Images Wikispecies |
| ↑ New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Lachnanthes caroliniana. Endangered, S1/G4. ||||||

### Family Pontederiaceae

* The Pontederiaceae (family).
* ↑ Pontederiaceae Troy Weldy & David Werier (2013) New York Flora Atlas. New York Flora Association, Albany, New York.

#### Tribe Pontederieae
##### Pontederia
###### Pontederia subg. Pontederia

* Pontederia cordata pickerel weed
Commelinales — Pontederiaceae — Pontederieae — Pontederia :
| Genus Pontederia | Pickerel weed | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | n NPT |
| Pontederia cordata L.1753. Pontederia cordata L. | PickerelweedPontédérie cordée, Langue du boeuf | Native, Secure | | NYFA: 5 | USDA-NN Images Wikispecies |

###### Pontederia subg. Oshunae

* Pontederia crassipesPontederia crassipes (water hyacinth) is an attractive free-floating aquatic perennial that is known to be very invasive in the south. It has been reported outside of cultivation in New York State, but was thought to be unable to overwinter this far north. However, it may be able to grow as an annual, and there is concern that water hyacinths may eventually evolve resistance to the cold.
* ↑ Weldy, Troy, David Werier, and Andrew Nelson. 2018 New York Flora Atlas. New York Flora Association, Albany, New York.
* ↑ "Invasive Species → Water Hyacinth." Western New York PRISM. 2018.
Commelinales — Pontederiaceae — Pontederieae — Pontederia :
| Genus Pontederia | Water hyacinth | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Pontederia crassipes Mart.1823. Pontederia crassipes Mart. 1837. Piaropus crassipes  (Mart.) Raf. 1837. Piaropus mesomelas  Raf. 1843. Eichhornia speciosa  Kunth (i) 1883. Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms 1883. Eichornia crassipes  (Mart.) Solms (i) 1893. Piaropus crassipes  (Mart.) Britton 2021. Oshuna crassipes  (Mart.) A.Haines | Common water hyacinth | Introduced from  South America, Highly invasive, Impersistent, NA, G5 OBL | | NYFA: X NYFA: 3 counties 7 counties | USDA-XX POWO Tropicos Images Wikispecies |

#### Tribe Heteranthereae
##### Heteranthera

* Heteranthera dubiaThe genus Heteranthera contains aquatic plants known as mud plantains, two of which are native to New York.
Commelinales — Pontederiaceae — Heteranthereae — Heteranthera :
| Genus Heteranthera | Mud plantain | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Heteranthera dubia (Jacq.) MacMill.1768. Commelina dubia  Jacq. 1892. Heteranthera dubia  (Jacq.) MacMill. 1894. Heteranthera dubia  (Jacq.) Morong isonym 1913. Zosterella dubia  (Jacq.) Small | Water star-grass, Grassleaf mudplantain, Grass-leaved mud-plantainHétéranthère litigieuse, Hétéranthère douteuse | Native, CoC: 5, Secure, S5, G5 OBL Perennial, Herb-forb | | NYFA: | USDA-NN Go Botany VASCAN ARS-GRIN FNA LBJ Images Wikispecies |
| Heteranthera reniformis Ruiz & Pav.1798. Heteranthera reniformis  Ruiz & Pav. 1799. Heterandra reniformis  (Ruiz & Pav.) P.Beauv. | Mud-plantain, Kidneyleaf mudplantain, Kidney-leaved mud-plantain | Native, CoC: 7, Rare, S3, G5 OBL Perennial, Herb-forb | | Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Rensselaer, Suffolk, Ulster NYFA: 3 | USDA-N0 ITIS FNA LBJ Images Wikispecies |

## Order Zingiberales
### Family Cannaceae

* The Cannaceae (family) contains the single genus Canna.
* ↑ Cannaceae Troy Weldy & David Werier (2013) New York Flora Atlas. New York Flora Association, Albany, New York.

#### Canna

* Canna × generalis
Zingiberales — Cannaceae — Canna :
| Genus Canna | Canna lily | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Canna × generalis L.H.Bailey (pro sp.)  Canna glauca ×   Canna indica1923. Canna × generalis  L.H.Bailey 1923. Canna × orchiodes  L.H.Bailey  auct. Canna × hortensis  non Guillaumin (1934) | Canna-lily, Canna lily, Common garden cannaBalisier | Introduced, Impersistent, Not naturalized, Cultivated, SNA, GNA FACW-OBL | | Oneida (1965) NYFA: Xm | USDA-X0 ARS-GRIN ITIS Tropicos Images Wikispecies |

## Order Ceratophyllales

* The Ceratophyllales contains a single family.

### Family Ceratophyllaceae

* The Ceratophyllaceae contains a single genus.

#### Ceratophyllum

* Ceratophyllum demersumThe genus Ceratophyllum (coontails or hornworts) contains only about a half-dozen species, of which, two are listed as native to New York.
Ceratophyllales — Ceratophyllaceae — Ceratophyllum :
| Genus Ceratophyllum | Hornwort | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Ceratophyllum demersum L.1753. Ceratophyllum demersum  L. 1794. Dichotophyllum demersum  (L.) Moench 1829. Ceratophyllum apiculatum  Cham. 1860. Ceratophyllum demersum  var. apiculatum  (Cham.) Asch. | Common coontail ⓘ Coon's tail ⓘ Common hornwort ⓘ Coontail ⓘ Common hornweed Coontail hornwort ⓘ Rigid hornweed ⓘ Cornifle nageante ⓘ | Native, CoC: 4, Secure, S5, G5 OBL Perennial, Herb-forb | | NYFA: 5 | USDA-NN Go Botany ARS-GRIN ITIS FNAFNA Tropicos Images Wikispecies |
| Ceratophyllum echinatum A.Gray1848. Ceratophyllum echinatum  A.Gray 1856. Ceratophyllum demersum  var. echinatum  (A.Gray) A.Gray 1985. Ceratophyllum submersum  var. echinatum  (A.Gray) Wilmot-Dear | Spiny-fruited coontail ⓘ Prickly coontail Prickly hornwort Spineless hornwort ⓘ Cornifle échinée | Native, CoC: 4, Vulnerable, S4, G4? OBL Perennial, Herb-forb | | NYFA: 3 | USDA-NN POWO Go Botany FNAFNA Tropicos Images Wikispecies |