# whitemouth dayflower (*Commelina erecta*) The whitemouth dayflower is a pretty flower that blooms in bright blue and white colors. It grows close to the ground and loves sunny spots, making it a cheerful addition to gardens and fields. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![whitemouth dayflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Blue_Pair.JPG&width=800) Photo: Assaf Shtilman, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_Pair.JPG) ## Appearance The whitemouth dayflower has bright blue petals, often with one smaller white petal, making it look like a tiny face. Its flowers emerge from unique, boat-shaped green bracts that cup the buds. Slender, grass-like leaves grow along its sprawling stems. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Commelinales - **Family:** Commelinaceae - **Genus:** Commelina ## Interesting facts - Its beautiful blue petals last only one sunny day, then they melt away into a watery goo! - Some people use the plant's natural sap as a unique purple dye or even as a temporary ink! - The plant's seeds can be launched far away, jumping out of their pods like tiny popcorn! - Though it looks like two, this flower actually has three petals, one is just super tiny and white! ## Special abilities - **Quick-Bloom Trick:** Whitemouth dayflower flowers open for just one day, ensuring rapid pollination before closing forever. - **Seed Spreader:** This plant can forcefully eject its seeds, helping it spread quickly to new spots and find more room. - **Self-Sealing Sap:** Whitemouth dayflower has a mucilaginous sap that can help seal minor wounds on its stems, aiding recovery. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-90 cm - **Spread:** 15-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen collection. - **Eats:** Beet armyworm (*Spodoptera exigua*) — Larvae feed on the leaves, causing damage. - **Eaten by:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — Leaves and young shoots can be cooked and consumed. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers unless you have permission. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify whitemouth dayflower? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is whitemouth dayflower? 10-90 cm ### How wide does whitemouth dayflower spread? 15-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on whitemouth dayflower? 1-2.5 cm ### When does whitemouth dayflower bloom? Summer to fall ### Is whitemouth dayflower edible? Yes ### Is whitemouth dayflower toxic? None ### What is whitemouth dayflower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Calico Rock Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/calico-rock-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Fort Brown](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-brown) — US · Historic Site - [New River Gorge National Park and Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/new-river-gorge-national-park-and-preserve) — West Virginia, US · National Park - [San Antonio Missions National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-antonio-missions-national-historical-park) — Texas, US · National Park - [Texas State Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/texas-state-aquarium) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Bastrop State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bastrop-state-park) — Texas, US · State Park [View all places to see whitemouth dayflower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/whitemouth-dayflower) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Whitemouth Dayflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/whitemouth-dayflower)