Tinantia anomala
(False Dayflower)
Tinantia anomala, Mayfield Park, Austin, Travis Co. 0852
Tinantia anomala, Mayfield Park, Austin, Travis Co. 0848
Tinantia anomala, St. Edward’s Park, Austin, Travis Co. 1526
Tinantia anomala, St. Edward’s Park, Austin, Travis Co. 1767
Tinantia anomala, St. Edward’s Park, Austin, Travis Co. 1517
Tinantia anomala, Mayfield Park, Austin, Travis Co. 1965
Tinantia anomala, Mayfield Park, Austin, Travis Co. 1949
| Scientific Name | Tinantia anomala (Commelinantia anomala) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | TIAN |
| Common Name | False Dayflower, Widow's Tears | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 39155 |
| Family | Commelinaceae (Spiderwort) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Moist, gravelly limestone soils in shaded areas, ravines, streamsides, wooded areas. Plant: Erect leafy annual, with clustered stems becoming much-branched and spreading; about 2 feet tall. Leaves: Basal leaves 4 to 13 inches long, linear-spatulate with tapering base and long petioles; upper stem leaves broadly to narrowly lanceolate and sessile to clasping, 2 to 4 inches long; single uppermost leaf subtends the inflorescence like a bract. Inflorescence: A terminal raceme of flowers, each up to 1-1/2 inches across, with two prominent large blue petals and one small white inconspicuous petal beneath the stamens; upper 3 stamens have fuzzy ball-like anthers with yellow and purple hairs, lower 3 stamens with white filaments and yellow anthers; stigma looks much like one of the stamens. Bloom Period: April to July. References: "Wildflowers of Texas" by Michael Eason, "Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country" by Marshall Enquist and "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston. Notes: None of the images here show more than one flower in the inflorescence, but buds are present below. The rare white variety was found at Mayfield Park in Austin. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native Endemic |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024