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Murdannia nudiflora is often confused with:
Murdannia keisak Flower detail
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Dianthus deltoides Dianthus deltoides
Euphorbia maculata Leaves
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea
Murdannia nudiflora has some other problems:
Doveweed

Murdannia nudiflora

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
mur-DAN-ee-uh noo-dee-FLOR-uh
Description

Doveweed is a weedy, prostrate, summer annual in the spiderwort (Commelinaceae) family. Doveweed often forms a dense mat and is considered a weed in lawns, gardens, and other open or lightly shaded sites. It is native to tropical Asia and Australia but has naturalized in most of the warm-temperate and tropical Americas. The species epithet is Latin for "naked flower" and refers to the leafless stalks that bear the flowers.

This weed germinates and grows best in hot, wet weather with most seedlings emerging late May through August. Doveweed is propagated exclusively by seeds, and plants may produce several generations in one season. When very young, this plant can easily be confused with a grass. Plants flower from summer into fall and then die after frost.  The stems are succulent, trailing, and root at the nodes.

A related species, marsh dayflower (Murdannia keisak), is less common but grows in similar habitats. Marsh dayflower tends to be larger and more vigorous than doveweed. Also, the sepals are shorter than the petals in doveweed, but in marsh dayflower the sepals are about as long as the petals.

Doveweed is difficult to control. Infestations generally begin in drainage ditches or low spots where water stands. Few herbicides control this weed. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on identifying and controlling Doveweed.

This species is not recommended for any garden or wild habitat.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Doveweed spreads aggressively within the lawn by thick, above ground, creeping stolons. Management can take two to three years. It can cause contact dermatitis in dogs that are built low to the ground.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#purple flowers#seeds#spreading#mat#ditches#poor soils tolerant#lawn weed#problem for dogs#annual#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#purple flowers#seeds#spreading#mat#ditches#poor soils tolerant#lawn weed#problem for dogs#annual#weed
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Murdannia
    Species:
    nudiflora
    Family:
    Commelinaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used as animal feed.
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Tropical and Subtropical Asia and Western Pacific
    Distribution:
    South Carolina south to Florida and west to Texas. Central and South America, Central Africa, Japan.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Weed
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Horizontal
    Prostrate
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Capsules 1/8 to 1/4 inch. Two seeds 2 per locule, deeply pitted.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Solitary
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Pinkish-Purple or violet 3-petalled flowers occur in loose groups from mid-summer to fall. Inflorescence is terminal or terminal and axillary; cymes few-flowered, solitary or fascicled, long-pedunculate; bracteoles caducous. Flowers bisexual, slightly bilaterally symmetric, less than 1/4 inch wide.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Fleshy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Linear
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are 2 to 5 inches long, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide, pointed, with parallel veins; alternate and spirally arranged, clasping the stem with a sheath. When very young, this plant can easily be confused with a grass.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Humidity
    Problems:
    Problem for Dogs
    Weedy