taxonID	type	description	language	source
03FC3925FFE0FFAD415A04A49138FE0F.taxon	vernacular_names	The gem-fruited Commelina	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFE0FFAD415A04A49138FE0F.taxon	description	Characterisation and circumscription This informal and non-monophyletic group is treated as such due to the historical taxonomic and nomenclatural confusion involving its species. The only character uniting these eight species is their showy and gem-like fruits, used in the past to delimit genera previously segregated from Commelina (i. e., Athyrocarpus, Commelinopsis, and Phaeosphaerion) and tribe Pollieae C. B. Clarke (Clarke 1881). Despite the morphological dissimilarity between these species, they continue to be confused and lumped together by field and generalist botanists, as well as by ecologists, parataxonomists, and amateurs. Thus, treating them in the same study not only makes sense from a nomenclatural and taxonomic perspective but also centralises the most up-to-date information available for this group. The fruits in the gem-fruited Commelina can range from dehiscent to partially dehiscent to indehiscent, crustaceous or not, and be shiny pearly-white to silvery, opaque off-white, opaque reddish-brown to dark maroon, or glaucous atro-vinaceous to bluish-black to black. The seeds can be monomorphic or dimorphic, free or variously fused to the fruit wall or septa, and their ornamentation can range from smooth to variously ornate. However, as hypothesised by Faden & Hunt (1987), the gem-like fruits seem to have evolved independently several times within Commelina since all gem-fruited species are morphologically and phylogenetically related to other species that lack such fruits (Pellegrini et al. in prep.). Furthermore, gem-fruited species of Commelina are recovered in at least three distantly related lineages in the genus (Pellegrini et al. in prep.).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFE0FFAD415A04A49138FE0F.taxon	distribution	Distribution This non-monophyletic group is currently restricted to the Neotropics, although at least one undescribed species is from the Palaeotropics (i. e., Madagascar; Faden & Hunt 1987). In the Neotropics, the group occurs from Mexico, reaching the Antilles and extending all the way down to northern Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. Brazil and Mexico are the most species-rich countries for members of this group, with 8 and 7 species, respectively.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFE0FFAD415A04A49138FE0F.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology Most species in this group grow in the understory of dry or rainforests, with a few of them also occurring or being restricted to open environments. Fruit dispersal Fruit and seed dispersal in the gem-fruited species has never been studied, and this reflects the complete absence of dispersal studies for Commelinaceae (Pellegrini & Faden 2017). However, it is hypothesised that the species with indehiscent fruits are zoochoric and potentially dispersed by birds (Faden & Hunt 1987; Pellegrini & Faden 2017). However, the species with dehiscent fruits (e. g., the newly described C. almandina M. Pell. & Cornejo sp. nov.) seem less likely to be dispersed by birds, despite being dark-coloured, clearly exposed by the plant’s vining habit, and being exerted from the spathe during maturity (Pellegrini, pers. obs.). Species with white fruits (dehiscent or not) are small-sized, prostrate to ascending, sometimes scrambling, small understory herbs, making their fruits somewhat difficult for most open environment birds to access. This makes it more likely for the dispersers to be some type of understory bird (s) native to the Neotropical rainforests (Pellegrini, pers. obs.).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFE0FFAD415A04A49138FE0F.taxon	discussion	Nomenclatural remarks Athyrocarpus was first described by Schlechtendal (1855: 454), who provides a rather detailed diagnosis for his new genus, characterising it by its sub-solitary inflorescences, with the superior cincinnus aborted or completely lacking and the lateral one 2 – 4 - flowered, flowers similar to Commelina in possessing 5 stamens (2 of which are ended by antherodes, i. e., staminodial), indehiscent green fruits becoming lead-blue at maturity, and dimorphic seeds. Schlechtendal (1855) goes into further detail, comparing his new genus to Aclisia E. Mey. ex C. Presl, Pollia Thunb., and Lamprocarpus Blume (all currently treated as Pollia s. lat.) due to their similar fruit morphology. Therefore, Schlechtendal’s (1855: 454) is considered the original work where this name was first validly published. Thus, Hasskarl (1866: 212) and Bentham & Hooker (1883: 847) actually represent citations of Schlechtendal’s genus and not attempts to validate the name as considered by many databases. Finally, Schlechtendal (1855: 454) included two species in his new genus, C. pallida and C. rubens Redouté; however, without formally transferring any of them to Athyrocarpus. Based on Schlechtendal’s diagnosis, plus the fact that C. rubens is considered to be distantly related to C. pallida (this study; see Remarks under C. rubens and Discussion), we designate C. pallida as the type species for Athyrocarpus. Interestingly, neither C. pallida nor C. rubens present the gem-like blue fruits deemed to be diagnostic for the genus. When describing Commelinopsis, Pichon (1946) unambiguously designated Commelina persicariifolia Redouté as the type species for his new genus by including it as its sole species. Nonetheless, the species does not possess the crustaceous, indehiscent and pearly-white to silvery capsules and seeds fused to the fruit wall and septae, which were listed by the author as diagnostic for the genus (Pichon 1946: 227). This is easily explained by Pichon’s incorrect application of C. persicariifolia, which for Pichon was conspecific with C. rufipes. Therefore, despite the widespread use of this generic name for the C. rufipes complex, it is actually typified by an unrelated species belonging to the C. tuberosa group. Phaeosphaerion was described by Hasskarl (1866: 212) based on his identification key for the genera of Commelinaceae. Despite being brief, the step leading to Phaeosphaerion characterises the genus as having flowers obscured by the spathe, simple stigma, and indehiscent, shiny and lead-black capsules. Despite not formally transferring it to his new genus, Hasskarl (1866: 212) does cite C. leiocarpa Benth. Hence, this species must be treated as the type species for the genus Phaeosphaerion.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEAFFA842D500EF95D2F850.taxon	description	urn: lsid: ipni. org: names: 77347326 - 1 Figs 1 – 2; Table 1	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEAFFA842D500EF95D2F850.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis Similar to C. efoveolata, C. leiocarpa, C. pallida, and C. texcocana due to their leaf-sheaths with hyaline to white hairs along the margin, inflorescences predominantly axillary and leaf-opposed, with a long peduncle, spathe base free, pedicels pilose, sepals opaque, green, lower sepals sessile and free, paired petals limb apex obtuse, and medial petal conspicuous and shortly-clawed. However, C. almandina sp. nov. can be easily differentiated from all species in the genus due to a combination of evenly pilose pedicels and sepals, white to cream-coloured anthers, aborted medial staminode, stigma truncate and white, fruits widely ellipsoid, thick-walled, dehiscent, 3 - valved, valves splitting only up to mid-length, opaque reddish-brown to dark maroon when mature, and seeds densely farinose. The fruits of C. almandina are unique in the genus.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEAFFA842D500EF95D2F850.taxon	etymology	Etymology The epithet derives from the French word ʻalmandineʼ, a corruption of the Medieval Latin words ʻ alamandīna ʼ and ʻ alabandīna ʼ, which were the names given to the deep to dark red types of garnets. This name is chosen in reference to the new species’ reddish-brown to dark maroon and gem-like fruits. The epithet also refers to the character Garnet from the Cartoon Network series ʻSteven Universeʼ, created by Rebecca Sugar. Garnet is a member of a gem-based alien species and the current leader of the Crystal Gems. In the cartoon, Garnet fights for the right to be who they are. The existence of Garnet is deemed an abomination by some members of their species since they are formed by the fusion of two independent Gems of different types, Ruby and Sapphire. Thus, Garnet is the personification of the love shared between Ruby and Sapphire, representing a metaphor for a BIPOC LGBTQIA + relationship. Academia has been historically dominated by white, cisgender, straight male scientists from the Global North. The past decades have given rise to countless movements to diversify and decolonise science. Honouring this fictional character is fitting not only due to the species’ unique and gorgeous gem-like fruits but also because it brings much-needed attention to BIPOC and LGBTQIA + researchers in STEM.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEAFFA842D500EF95D2F850.taxon	materials_examined	Type material Type ECUADOR – Guayas • Guayaquil, Cerro Azul; 18 Jul. 2020; fl; X. Cornejo & J. Josse 9333; holotype: GUAY [GUAY no. 13583]!. Paratypes ECUADOR – Guayas • vicinity of Guayaquil, Cerro Azul; 13 Jun. 1955; fl., fr.; E. Asplund 16628; S! • vicinity of Guayaquil, Cerro Azul; 14 Jun. 1955; fl., fr.; E. Asplund 16645; S! • Hacienda Barcelona, 12 km W of Guayaquil, on the road to Playas-Salinas; 24 Jul. 1962; fl., fr.; A. J. Gilmartin 762; US! • vicinity of Guayaquil, Cerro Azul; 2 ° 08 ′ S, 79 ° 59 ′ W; 450 m a. s. l.; 26 Jun. 1994; fl.; X. Cornejo & C. Bonifaz 2931; GUAY!.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEAFFA842D500EF95D2F850.taxon	description	Description Herbs 40 – 300 cm tall, vining, perennial, robust, terrestrial. Roots tuberous, cylindric, with apical fusiform tubers. Rhizome short. Stems dimorphic, fibrous, branched in the upper third, primary branches ascending, rooting only at the base, secondary branches shorter than the primary branches, twining, apex decumbent or suberect to ascending; internodes 2.2 – 11.1 cm long, distally shorter, green, glabrous, with a sparse line of acicular hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs hyaline. Leaves distichously-alternate, evenly distributed along the upper part of the stem, pseudopetiolate; sheaths 1.1 – 2.3 cm long, light green, glabrous, with a sparse line of acicular hairs opposite to the blade, hairs hyaline, margin upright, sparsely ciliate to ciliate, hairs acicular, hyaline; pseudopetiole 2.2 – 4.6 mm long; blades 2.9 – 9.7 × (1 –) 1.5 – 2.7 cm, lanceolate to ovate, straight, membranous to thinly chartaceous, adaxially dark green, abaxially light green, drying adaxially dark green or olive-green, abaxially light green or olive-green, glabrous on both sides, base asymmetric, obtuse to round, margin flat, scabrid with prickle-hairs, apex acuminate to long-acuminate; midvein conspicuous, adaxially impressed, abaxially prominently obtuse, secondary veins 2 – 3 pairs, adaxially conspicuous, abaxially inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous on both sides when dry. Synflorescence composed of a solitary main florescence or a main florescence and 1 – 2 co-florescences, restricted to the apex of the stems and forming a dense second-degree synflorescence. Inflorescences leaf-opposed, peduncle 2.3 – 4.1 cm long, straight, glabrous, except for a line of minute hook-hairs opposed to the spathe, sometimes with some odd eglandular hairs, hairs hyaline; spathe 1.2 – 2.5 × 1 – 2.2 cm, cordate, patent to the peduncle, concolourous with the leaves, internally inconspicuously mucilaginous, base free, subcordate to round, glabrous on both sides, margin flat, minutely scabrid with prickle-hairs, hairs hyaline, apex acute, straight, veins 4 – 5 pairs, inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous when dry; upper cincinnus vestigial, flowerless, rarely producing a single abortive, staminate flower, peduncle 0.8 – 1.1 mm long, included, gently recurved at pre-anthesis and anthesis, recurved and exserted at post-anthesis and fruit, glabrous with some odd hook-hairs towards the apex, hairs hyaline; lower cincinnus 2 – 4 - flowered, flowers mainly bisexual, rarely staminate, peduncle 6.7 – 16 mm long, thickened in fruit, sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs towards the apex, hairs hyaline; bracteoles early deciduous, cup-shaped, inconspicuous, light green, opaque, margin entire, glabrous. Flowers chasmogamous, zygomorphic, enantiostylous (style dislocated to the opposite side to the medial stamen); floral buds 2.2 – 3.8 × 2 – 2.5 mm, obovoid, light green or pale lilac to light blue, pilose, hairs hyaline; pedicel 1.7 – 2.4 mm long, deflexed in bud and at anthesis, reflexed and elongating in fruit, light green, pilose, hairs acicular, hyaline; sepals light green, opaque, persistent and accrescent in fruit, dorsal sepal 2.9 – 3.4 × 1.9 – 2.3 mm, elliptic to narrowly triangular, concave, pilose, densely pilose at base, hairs hyaline, apex acute, lower sepals 3.2 – 3.6 × 2.1 – 2.4 mm, sessile, free, ovate to widely ovate, concave, sparsely pilose, pilose at base, generally glabrescent in fruit, hairs hyaline, apex obtuse; paired petals 3.2 – 4 × 3.1 – 3.6 mm, clawed, claw 0.6 – 0.8 mm long, white to pale lilac to light blue, limb 2.7 – 2.9 × 3.1 – 3.6 mm, widely reniform to widely rhombic-reniform, pale lilac to lilac to light blue, base asymmetric, subcordate, apex obtuse to slightly emarginate, medial petal 3.3 – 3.8 × 3.2 – 3.8 mm, shortly-clawed, claw 0.2 – 0.3 mm long, white, limb 3.1 – 3.5 × 3.2 – 3.8 mm, widely sagittate, entire, concave, concolourous with the paired petals, opaque, glabrous on both sides, apex obtuse; staminodes 2, medial staminode completely absent, filaments 1.7 – 2.5 mm long, straight to arcuate-decurved, white, base light green, apex pale lilac to light blue, antherodes 1 – 1.2 × 0.3 – 0.4 mm, X-shaped, white, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes present, non-polliniferous or producing very few grains, not apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes conspicuous, spathulate, smaller than the lower, lower lobes spathulate to obovate; lateral filaments 3.4 – 4.6 mm long, gently sigmoid, geniculate distal to the middle, white, base light green, apex pale lilac to light blue, anthers 1.5 – 1.8 × 0.6 – 0.8 mm, held near the antherodes and medial anther, sagittate, white to cream-coloured, drying cream-coloured to pale yellow, connective white, pollen white, drying pale yellow; medial filament 2.8 – 3.6 mm long, straight to arcuate-recurved, apex recurved, white, base light green, apex pale lilac to light blue, anther 1.9 – 2.2 × 0.6 – 0.8 mm, held near the antherodes and lateral anthers, hastate, curved, white to cream-coloured, drying cream-coloured to pale yellow, connective hastate, white, anther sacs appressed to each other, pollen white, drying pale yellow; ovary 0.7 – 1 × 0.4 – 0.6 mm, 3 - carpellate, 5 - ovulate, ellipsoid to widely ellipsoid, green, smooth, glabrous, style 2.7 – 3.4 mm long, exceeding the stamens, sigmoid, base tapering into the ovary, apex strongly recurved, white, base light green, apex pale lilac to light blue, deciduous in fruit, stigma truncate, white. Capsules 1 – 2 per spathe, 7.4 – 8.5 × 5 – 5.4 mm, widely ellipsoid, sessile, fruit wall thick, apex rostrate, not constricted between the seeds when immature, becoming constricted between the seeds when mature, light green when immature, reddish-brown to dark maroon when mature, sometimes irregularly speckled tan, opaque, glabrous, smooth, 3 - locular, 3 - valved, valves splitting only up to mid-length, dorsal locule 1 - seeded, ventral locules 2 - seeded. Seeds dimorphic, dark brown to black; dorsal locule seed 4.2 – 4.4 × 2.8 – 3 mm, free from the capsule wall, ellipsoid, dorsiventrally compressed, ventrally flattened, slightly cleft towards the embryotega, testa shallowly rugose, with some small furrows on the side opposed to the embryotega, completely covered by a thick, cream-coloured farinae, embryotega semilateral, inconspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum linear, longer than ½ the length of the seed; ventral locule seeds 2.5 – 2.8 × 2.5 – 2.6 mm, free from the capsule wall, widely ellipsoid, truncate at one end, ventrally flattened, not cleft towards the embryotega, testa irregularly rugose, densely farinose, farinae cream-coloured, embryotega semilateral to lateral, inconspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum linear, ca ½ the length of the seed.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEAFFA842D500EF95D2F850.taxon	distribution	Distribution Commelina almandina sp. nov. is currently endemic to Guayaquil, province of Guayas, Ecuador (Fig. 2).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEAFFA842D500EF95D2F850.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology It grows in the understory of conserved patches of dry forests between 200 – 400 m a. s. l. It is persistent in the interior and at the edge of secondary forests, under a more or less closed canopy, but does not grow on fully open disturbed habitats. In the type locality, it is occasionally sympatric at the edge of forests but never in intermixed populations with the distantly related C. erecta L. Phenology It was found in bloom in June and July and with fruits from June to August. The flowers open during the morning, at 10: 00 AM, and small native bees of the genus Plebeia Schwarz, 1938 (Apidae, Meliponini) have been observed visiting the flowers and transporting pollen grains to the stigma while feeding on pollen grains from other anthers (Cornejo, pers. obs.). Fruit and seed production seem consistent, and, despite the lack of breeding experiments, the species seems to match a seed set pattern consistent with self-compatibility with post-anthesis self-pollination. This is also consistent with field and cultivation observations for other (closely and distantly) related species of Commelina (Faden & Pellegrini, unpubl. data). We have not observed any animals interacting with the fruits despite their striking colouration and being clearly exposed by the pendulous spathes along the secondary branches.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEAFFA842D500EF95D2F850.taxon	vernacular_names	Proposed vernacular names Churuyuyo granate (Ecuador), Guayaquilʼs Commelina (English).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEAFFA842D500EF95D2F850.taxon	conservation	Conservation The surviving patches of the Cerro Azul forests and the adjacent Cerro Blanco forests where C. almandina sp. nov. occurs encompass less than 200 km 2, with the species presenting a minuscule EOO of 0.928 km 2 and AOO of 0.143 km 2. The known extant subpopulations are highly fragmented and generally have fewer than five mature individuals. These subpopulations have been greatly affected by selective timber tree cutting during past decades and are under high pressure from the continuing urban development of the city of Guayaquil. Finally, neither the Cerro Azul forests nor the adjacent Cerro Blanco forests represent protected areas, making them even more susceptible to anthropogenic threats. The most recent collection of this species (from 2020) was selected by us as the holotype to highlight that despite all ongoing threats, the species is still extant and could be a good potential candidate for both in-situ and ex-situ conservation efforts, especially due to the species being potentially self-compatible. Therefore, the preliminary status of Critically Endangered [CR, B 1 ab (iii, iv, v) + B 2 ab (iii, iv, v) + D 2] is assigned to this species, following the IUCN (2012) criteria and the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) recommendations.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEAFFA842D500EF95D2F850.taxon	discussion	Remarks Commelina almandina sp. nov. is unique in the genus due to its partially dehiscent, opaque reddish-brown to dark maroon fruits. It is morphologically most closely related to C. pallida and C. texcocana (both endemic to Mexico) due to their straight peduncles, spathe straight with a subcordate to round base, pedicels pilose with acicular hairs, sepals green and variously pilose (glabrous only in C. texcocana), petals pale-coloured and subequal, white to cream-coloured antherodes, medial staminode aborted, stigma white, capsules dehiscent, opaque, constricted between the seeds when mature, apex rostrate, the dorsal locule 1 - seeded and the ventral locules 2 - seeded, and seeds dimorphic, ellipsoid and ventrally flattened, and dark brown to black seeds (Table 1). These characters are very peculiar in Commelina but certainly not restricted to these species. The opaque sepals are certainly plesiomorphic in the family but also very uncommon in the genus (Pellegrini 2019). Thus, it is likely that these three species are closely related. However, C. pallida presents strigose stems, leaf-sheaths and leaf-blades, glabrous sepals, and capsules tan-coloured when mature (Table 1). In C. texcocana, only the dorsal sepal is setose along the midvein, the petals range from white to light blue, and the capsules are tan-coloured when mature (Table 1). However, C. almandina can be easily differentiated from these species due to its large-sized vining habit, synflorescence generally composed of a main florescence plus 1 – 2 co-florescences, spathe patent to the peduncle, evenly pilose sepals, paired petal limb base cordate, aborted medial staminode, staminodes with conspicuous upper lobes and spathulate to obovate lower lobes, anthers white to cream-coloured, lateral anthers held near the antherodes and medial anther, stigma truncate, and the aforementioned fruit morphology (Table 1). It is also similar to C. efoveolata and C. leiocarpa due to their robust vining habit, tuberous roots, pilose pedicels, and gem-like fruits (Table 1). Nonetheless, C. almandina sp. nov. can be easily differentiated from C. efoveolata and C. leiocarpa due to its pilose sepals (vs dorsal sepal setose along the midvein and laterals glabrous in C. efoveolata and all glabrous in C. leiocarpa), white to cream-coloured anthers (vs yellow), white stigma (vs tan-coloured and sky-blue?), fruits dehiscent, widely ellipsoid, opaque reddish-brown to dark maroon and apex rostrate (vs indehiscent, globose, glaucous and atro-vinaceous to bluish-black to black), and by its dimorphic seeds (vs monomorphic) (Table 1). Another two gem-fruited species (viz., C. obliqua and C. rufipes) are recorded for Ecuador and surrounding areas, all with indehiscent and pearly-white to silvery crustaceous fruits (see Remarks below on each species). Nonetheless, these species present well-developed upper cincinnus, white petals, yellow antherodes and anthers, and monomorphic seeds adnate to the capsule wall. Finally, C. almandina is also easily differentiated from the sympatric C. erecta by its climbing habit (vs prostrate to ascending to erect in C. erecta), spathe with free margin (vs connate), petals subequal and lilac to light blue (vs unequal and generally sky blue, rarely lilac or white), white anthers (vs greyish-purple to greyish-blue), capsules smooth (vs dorsal locule verrucose), seeds farinose and lacking a lateral appendage (vs very sparsely farinose and with a lateral, tan-coloured and fleshy appendage), with ornate testa (vs smooth), and by growing in a more preserved habitat with a more or less closed canopy, fresher, and shady understory (vs the adjacent highly disturbed, warmer, and open habitats).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEDFFB1416800109657FDA5.taxon	description	Figs 3 – 4; Table 2	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEDFFB1416800109657FDA5.taxon	etymology	Etymology The epithet derives from the New Latin ʻ bambusa ʼ (which derives from the Malay ʻbambuʼ) + Latin ʻ folia ʼ (meaning ʻleafʼ), in reference to its bamboo-like leaves.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEDFFB1416800109657FDA5.taxon	materials_examined	Type material MEXICO – México • Distrito de Valle de Bravo, La Junta; 9 Nov. 1954; fl., fr.; E. Matuda et al. 31671; lectotype: MEXU [MEXU 00075534]!, designated by Espejo-Serna & López-Ferrari (1995); isolectotypes: MEXU [MEXU 00142028]!, [MEXU 00142029]!. Selected material examined MEXICO – México • Carretera entre Valle de Bravo y Colorín, ladera húmeda; 31 Aug. 1952; fl., fr.; E. Matuda et al. 27005; MEXU 2 ex.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEDFFB1416800109657FDA5.taxon	description	Description Herbs 40 – 60 cm tall, ascending, perennial, robust, terrestrial. Roots fibrous, thin. Rhizome short. Stems monomorphic, ascending, branched at base; internodes 1.9 – 10.2 cm long, distally shorter, green, sparsely hispid to hispid with acicular hairs, hairs hyaline, with a sparse line of acicular hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs light brown. Leaves distichously-alternate, congested in the upper part of the stem, sessile; sheaths 1.1 – 2.9 cm long, light green, hirsute to densely hirsute with a mixture of prickle- and acicular hairs, hairs hyaline, margin upright, hirsute, hairs acicular, dark red to atro-vinaceous; blades 1.7 – 21.4 × 0.8 – 4.8 cm, narrowly oblong to narrowly elliptic, obliquely asymmetric, chartaceous, adaxially green to dark green, abaxially light green, adaxially hispid with a mixture of acicular and glandular hairs, hairs hyaline, abaxially hispid, hirsute along the midvein, hairs acicular, hyaline, base asymmetric, amplexicaulous to subamplexicaulous, margin flat, scabrid with prickle-hairs, apex acuminate to long-acuminate; midvein conspicuous, adaxially impressed, abaxially prominently obtuse, secondary veins 3 – 4 pairs, adaxially conspicuous, abaxially inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous on both sides when dry. Synflorescence composed of a solitary main florescence or main florescence plus 1 – 5 co-florescences, restricted to the apex of the stems. Inflorescences terminal or apparently so, peduncle 6.4 – 8.9 mm long, shorter than ½ length of the spathe, straight, hispid with acicular hairs, hairs hyaline; spathe 2.2 – 2.9 × 1.9 – 3 cm, widely depressed ovate-triangular to depressed ovate-triangular, patent to the peduncle, concolourous with the leaves, internally conspicuously mucilaginous, base connate up to the apex or almost so, truncate, externally hispid to hirsute, hairs hyaline or rusty, margin flat, apex obtuse to acute, straight, veins 3 – 4 pairs, inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous when dry; upper cincinnus vestigial, flowerless, peduncle 9.1 – 12.3 mm long, included, gently recurved at pre-anthesis, anthesis, post-anthesis and fruit, sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; lower cincinnus 1 – 2 - flowered, flowers mainly bisexual, rarely staminate, peduncle 4.5 – 9.2 mm long, thickened in fruit, glabrous to sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs towards the apex. Flowers chasmogamous, strongly zygomorphic, enantiostylous (style gently dislocated to the opposite side to the medial stamen); floral buds 2.9 – 5.7 × 4.6 – 5.1 mm, obovoid, light green or white to light blue to pale lilac, glabrous; pedicel 4.1 – 6.8 mm long, deflexed in bud and at anthesis, reflexed and elongating in fruit, light green, glabrous; sepals hyaline, persistent and accrescent in fruit, dorsal sepal 3.8 – 4.2 × 1.7 – 2.8 mm, elliptic to triangular, concave, glabrous, apex acute, lower sepals 4.3 – 5.4 × 3.1 – 4.5 mm, shortly-clawed, connate up to the upper third, oblique-obovate to widely oblique-obovate, concave, glabrous, apex round; paired petals 7.8 – 10.1 × 4.5 – 5.8 mm, clawed, claw 2.6 – 3.8 mm long, white to light blue to pale lilac, limb 5.2 – 6.9 × 4.5 – 5.8 mm, widely transversally rhombic to widely depressed obovate, light blue to pale lilac, base asymmetric, cuneate, apex obtuse, medial petal 3.7 – 4.2 × 1.2 – 2.3 mm, sessile, lanceolate to ovate, entire, apex involute, discolourous with the paired petals, white, hyaline, glabrous on both sides, apex acuminate; staminodes 3, medial staminode equal to the laterals, filaments 3.2 – 3.1 mm long, straight to arcuate-recurved, white, base light green, apex yellowish-orange to cream-orange, antherodes 0.5 – 0.6 × 0.3 – 0.5 mm, X-shaped, yellow, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes present, non-polliniferous or producing very few grains, not apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes conspicuous, very widely obovate, larger than the lower, lower lobes widely oblong to subquadrangular; lateral filaments 3.8 – 4.5 mm long, almost straight to very gently sigmoid, white, base light green, apex yellowish-orange to cream-orange, anthers 1.8 – 2.2 × 1.2 – 1.5 mm, held with the medial anther, widely elliptic to widely ovate, orange-yellow to orange, pollen yellowish-orange to cream-orange, drying orange-yellow to apricot; medial filament 2.8 – 3.5 mm long, straight to arcuate-decurved, apex decurved, white, base light green, apex yellowish-orange to cream-orange, anther 1.9 – 2.7 × 0.6 – 0.8 mm, held with the lateral anthers, oblong to elliptic, slightly curved, orange-yellow to orange, connective oblong, orange, anther sacs not appressed to each other, pollen yellowish-orange to cream-orange, drying orange-yellow to apricot; ovary 0.9 – 1.5 × 0.7 – 1.2 mm, 3 - carpellate, 5 - ovulate, very widely fusiform to subglobose, green, smooth, puberulous with glandular microhairs, style 4.6 – 6.5 mm long, equalling or exceeding the stamens, very gently sigmoid, base tapering into the ovary, apex strongly involute, white, base light green, apex yellowish-orange to cream-orange, deciduous in fruit, stigma trilobate, tan-coloured. Capsules 1 – 2 per spathe, 8.2 – 9.8 × 6.1 – 7.5 mm, subglobose, sessile, fruit wall thin, apex round to 3 - lobed, constricted between the seeds, off-white when mature, opaque, smooth, 3 - locular, 3 - valved, dorsal locule 0 – 1 - seeded, dehiscent, ventral locules 0 – 1 - seeded, dehiscent, valves splitting to base. Seeds monomorphic, 5.4 – 6.6 × 4.1 – 5.4 mm, all free from the capsule wall, widely ellipsoid, dorsiventrally compressed, ventrally flattened, slightly cleft towards the embryotega, brown to greyish-brown, testa smooth to inconspicuously foveolate, farinose, farinae white, embryotega semilateral, conspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum C-shaped, ca the same length as the seed.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEDFFB1416800109657FDA5.taxon	distribution	Distribution Commelina bambusifolia is endemic to central Mexico (Fig. 4).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEDFFB1416800109657FDA5.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology It grows in the understory of conserved patches of dry forests. Phenology It was found in bloom from July to November and with fruits in August and September.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEDFFB1416800109657FDA5.taxon	vernacular_names	Vernacular name Hierba del pollo (central Mexico).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEDFFB1416800109657FDA5.taxon	conservation	Conservation Commelina bambusifolia has very narrow EOO (5472 km 2) and AOO (ca 64 km 2), being known from less than 20 collections from only five localities. Most of these collections were made between 1950 and 1999, with only six of them having been made between 2003 and 2019. There is no information on its populational trends or its current threats. Thus, we suggest C. bambusifolia should be considered Endangered [EN, B 2 ab (i, ii, iv)], following the IUCN (2012) criteria and the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) recommendations.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFEDFFB1416800109657FDA5.taxon	discussion	Remarks Similar to C. scabrata due to their hirsute leaf-sheaths, blades narrowly oblong to narrowly elliptic, obliquely asymmetric, abaxially hirsute along the midvein, margin smooth, apex acuminate to long-acuminate, upper cincinnus vestigial and included, lower cincinnus glabrous, paired petals limb base cuneate, medial anther lacking a vinaceous to dark purple spot on the connective, fruits opaque off-white when mature, and all locules 1 - seeded (Table 2). However, it can be differentiated by its leaf-blades adaxially glandular-pubescent with hyaline hairs (vs hispid on both sides with rusty or hyaline hairs in C. scabrata), base amplexicaulous to subamplexicaulous (vs cuneate), paired petals limb light blue to pale lilac (vs sky blue), fruits subglobose, smooth, apex round to 3 - lobed and 3 - valved with valves splitting to base (vs prismatic, sparsely verrucose, apex aristate, consistently parasitised by weevil larvae, unequally 2 - valved, ventral valves splitting only up to mid-length), and seeds monomorphic and free from the fruit wall (vs dimorphic, dorsal seed adnate to the fruit wall and septa, and ventral seeds free from the fruit wall) (Table 2).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFF6FFBD42CC03579123F85F.taxon	description	Figs 5 – 6; Table 1	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFF6FFBD42CC03579123F85F.taxon	etymology	Etymology The epithet is a combination of the Latin prefix ʻ ē- ʼ (meaning ʻoppositionʼ) + ʻ fovea ʼ (meaning ʻhole, pit, cavityʼ) + the suffix ʻ - ole ʼ (indicating a diminutive) + the suffix ʻ - ātum ʼ (indicating the possession of a particular feature), in reference to its seeds lacking foveolas, distinguishing it from C. leiocarpa.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFF6FFBD42CC03579123F85F.taxon	materials_examined	Type material VENEZUELA – Aragua • prope Colonia Tovar, valley of San Carlos; 1854 – 1855; fl., fr.; A. Fendler 1555; lectotype: GH [GH 00029569]!, designated by Hassemer (2020); isolectotype: K [K 000363241]!. Selected material examined Central America COSTA RICA – San José • vicinity of El General; Nov. 1936; fl.; A. F. Skutch 2893; K. HONDURAS – El Paraíso • slopes above Yuscarán, Montserrat; 25 Nov. 1958; fl.; J. G. Hawkes et al. 2051; K. NICARAGUA – Matagalpa • Finca La Castilla, plantaciones de café; 21 Jan. 1982; fl., fr.; D. Castro 2353; HNMN, K, MO, US. PANAMA – Panamá • Canal Zone, Corozal; 18 Dec. 1923; fl.; P. C. Standley 27343; F, US. South America COLOMBIA – Magdalena • Santa Marta; 1898 – 1899.; fl., fr.; H. H. Smith 2289; BR, CM, K, MO, P, VT. VENEZUELA – Distrito Federal • Cerro Avila, Quebrada Chacaito; 23 Dec. 1975; fl.; B. Manara s. n.; K [K 003932703], VEN.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFF6FFBD42CC03579123F85F.taxon	description	Description Herbs 30 – 150 cm tall, scrambling to scrambling-fruticose, perennial, medium-sized to robust, terrestrial or rupicolous. Roots tuberous, cylindric. Rhizome short. Stems dimorphic, fibrous, branched from the base or almost so, primary branches scrambling to ascending, rooting only at the base, secondary branches longer than the primary branches, scrambling or twining, apex suberect to ascending; internodes 1.1 – 11.2 cm long, distally shorter, green, sometimes suffused with dark red to vinaceous, sparsely pilose with acicular hairs, hairs hyaline. Leaves distichously-alternate, evenly distributed along the upper part of the stem, pseudopetiolate; sheaths 0.3 – 1.8 cm long, light green suffused with dark red to vinaceous, sparsely to densely hispid, hairs acicular, hyaline, margin upright, sparsely to densely hispid, hairs acicular, hyaline; pseudopetiole inconspicuous to up to 4.5 mm long; blades 1.5 – 12.4 × 0.6 – 3.1 cm, narrowly elliptic to elliptic to lanceolate, straight, membranous to thinly chartaceous, adaxially dark green, abaxially light green, adaxially sparsely to densely hispid, hairs acicular, hyaline, abaxially sparsely to densely hispid, hairs generally congested along the midvein, acicular, hyaline, base asymmetric, obtuse to round, margin flat, scabrid or ciliate with a mixture of prickle- and acicular hairs, hyaline to light brown, apex acuminate to long-acuminate; midvein conspicuous, adaxially impressed, abaxially prominently obtuse, secondary veins 3 – 4 pairs, adaxially conspicuous, abaxially inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous on both sides when dry. Synflorescence composed of a solitary main florescence, restricted to the apex of the stems and forming a dense second-degree synflorescence. Inflorescences leaf-opposed, peduncle 0.9 – 4.3 cm long, the same length or longer than ½ length of the spathe, pendulous, pilose with acicular hairs, with a line of minute acicular hairs opposed to the spathe, hairs hyaline; spathe 1.8 – 4.5 × 1.3 – 3.2 cm, cordate, continuous to the peduncle and pointing downwards, internally inconspicuously mucilaginous, base free, cordate, externally sparsely to densely hispid, hairs acicular, hyaline to light brown, apex acuminate, slightly falcate, veins 4 – 5 pairs, inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous when dry; upper cincinnus vestigial, flowerless, peduncle inconspicuous or up to 2.3 mm long, included, gently recurved at pre-anthesis and anthesis, recurved and exserted at post-anthesis and fruit, glabrous with some odd hook-hairs towards the apex, hairs hyaline; lower cincinnus 1 – 3 - flowered, flowers mainly bisexual, rarely staminate, peduncle 0.8 – 1.7 cm long, thickened in fruit, sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs. Flowers chasmogamous, zygomorphic, enantiostylous (style gently dislocated to the opposite side to the medial stamen); floral buds 3.5 – 7.4 × 2.1 – 5.7 mm, obovoid, light green or white to pale lilac-blue to light blue, pilose with acicular hairs, hairs hyaline; pedicel 2.8 – 7.5 mm long, deflexed in bud and at anthesis, reflexed and elongating in fruit, light green, sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; sepals light green, opaque, early deciduous in fruit, dorsal sepal 3.8 – 6.1 × 2.4 – 4.5 mm, elliptic to narrowly triangular, concave, pilose along the midvein with acicular hairs, hairs hyaline, apex acute, lower sepals 4.4 – 6.3 × 3.6 – 4.2 mm, sessile, free, widely elliptic, concave, glabrous, apex obtuse; paired petals 0.8 – 1.4 × 0.8 – 1.2 cm, clawed, claw 2.3 – 5.8 mm long, white, limb 5.8 – 7.9 × 8.7 – 11.6 mm, widely reniform to widely rhombic-reniform, white to pale lilac-blue to light blue, base asymmetric, subtruncate, apex obtuse, medial petal 4.8 – 7.4 × 4.8 – 7.2 mm, shortly-clawed, claw 0.2 – 0.5 mm long, white, limb 4.6 – 6.9 × 4.8 – 7.2 mm, widely sagittate, entire, concave, opaque, concolourous with the paired petals, opaque, glabrous on both sides, apex obtuse to round; staminodes 2, medial staminode completely absent, filaments 2.4 – 4.6 mm long, straight to arcuate-decurved, white, base light green, antherodes 0.5 – 0.8 × 0.9 – 1.4 mm, X-shaped, yellow, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes present, non-polliniferous or producing very few grains, not apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes conspicuous, spathulate to obovate, smaller than the lower, lower lobes spathulate to obovate; lateral filaments 5.2 – 7.1 mm long, gently sigmoid, geniculate distal to the middle, apex recurved, white, base light green, anthers 1.1 – 1.7 × 0.6 – 0.9 mm, held near the antherodes and medial anther, sagittate, yellow, connective pale yellow to yellow, pollen pale yellow, drying yellow; medial filament 3.1 – 4.4 mm long, straight to gently arcuate-recurved, apex decurved, white, base light green, anther 3.5 – 4.7 × 1.2 – 1.9 mm, held near the antherodes and lateral anthers, linear-hastate, strongly curved, yellow, connective hastate, yellow, anther sacs appressed to each other for the upper ⅔, basal third with divergent anther sacs, pollen pale yellow, drying yellow; ovary 2.3 – 3.5 × 1.2 – 2.3 mm, 3 - carpellate, 5 - ovulate, ellipsoid to widely ellipsoid, green, smooth, glabrous, style 4.8 – 7.1 mm long, twice as long as the stamens, sigmoid, base tapering into the ovary, apex recurved, white, base light green, persistent in fruit, stigma truncate, tan-coloured to brownish-mauve. Capsules 1 – 3 per spathe, 5.2 – 8.4 × 4.8 – 8.2 mm, subglobose to globose, sessile, fruit wall thick, apex apiculate due to the persistent style base, not constricted between the seeds when mature, dark burgundy to atro-vinaceous to black when mature, glaucous, smooth, 3 - locular, indehiscent, dorsal locule 1 - seeded, indehiscent, ventral locules 2 - seeded, indehiscent. Seeds monomorphic, 3 – 4.2 × 3.2 – 3.6 mm, free from the capsule wall, widely triangular to triangular-ellipsoid, dorsally flattened, ventrally flattened, slightly cleft towards the embryotega, dark grey to black, testa rugose, densely farinose, farinae white, embryotega semilateral to semidorsal, inconspicuous, without a prominent apicule, hilum linear, on a strong ridge, ca the same length as the seed.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFF6FFBD42CC03579123F85F.taxon	distribution	Distribution Commelina efoveolata ranges from southern Honduras to Colombia and Venezuela (Fig. 6).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFF6FFBD42CC03579123F85F.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology It grows in the understory of montane forests of Central America and northern South America. Phenology It was found in bloom and fruits from November to January.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFF6FFBD42CC03579123F85F.taxon	vernacular_names	Vernacular name Canutillo morado (Venezuela).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFF6FFBD42CC03579123F85F.taxon	conservation	Conservation Commelina efoveolata presents a wide EOO (1 042 015 km 2) but a considerably narrow AOO (ca 444 km 2). This difference can be explained by the relatively small number of known records. Almost all known collections were made before 1990, with few extant populations confirmed by photographic records (iNaturalist observations 101449082; 106104484; 101678538; 247428520; 99267736). There is no further information on its populational trends. However, the montane forests of Central and northern South America are currently threatened by deforestation and urban growth. Thus, following the IUCN (2012) criteria and the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) recommendations, we suggest C. efoveolata be assessed as Vulnerable [VU, B 2 b (iii, iv, v), c (iii, iv)].	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFF6FFBD42CC03579123F85F.taxon	discussion	Remarks Commelina efoveolata has been historically considered a synonym of C. leiocarpa, exclusively due to their indehiscent, glaucous and dark-coloured fruits. Campbell (2008) transferred Phaeosphaerion efoveolatum C. B. Clarke to Commelina as distinct from C. leiocarpa but provided no explanation or rationale for that decision. Nonetheless, both species are morphologically distinct (Figs 5, 9), with their distribution overlapping slightly only in Honduras and Nicaragua (Fig. 6). They differ in stem branching pattern and pubescence (branched from the base or almost so, sparsely to densely hispid with acicular hairs in C. efoveolata vs branched in the upper half or upper third, scabrid with a mixture of prickle- and hook-hairs in C. leiocarpa), leaf-blade pubescence (adaxially sparsely to densely hispid with acicular hairs, abaxially sparsely to densely hispid with acicular hairs, hairs generally congested along the midvein vs adaxially glabrous to scabrid with a mixture of prickle- and hook-hairs, sometimes also sparsely pilose along the midvein, abaxially scabrid with a mixture of prickle- and hook-hairs and pilose along the midvein), leaf-blade margin (ciliate with a mixture of prickle- and acicular hairs vs papillose), spathe pubescence (externally sparsely to densely hispid with acicular hairs, margin scabrid or ciliate with prickle- or acicular hairs vs externally glabrous to scabrid with a mixture of prickle- and hook-hairs), sepal pubescence (dorsal sepal pilose along the midvein vs glabrous), petal colouration (white to light blue vs sky blue), antherodes colouration and morphology (yellow, upper lobes conspicuous, lower lobes spathulate to obovate vs white, upper lobes absent, lower lobes filiform), mature fruit colouration (dark burgundy to atro-vinaceous to black vs dark blue to bluish-black to black), and seed morphology (not cleft towards the embryotega, testa shallowly rugose vs cleft towards the embryotega, testa foveolate) (Table 1). Thus, we reestablish C. efoveolata as an accepted and morphologically diagnosable species.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFBFFB84144001096E7F9C8.taxon	description	Figs 7 – 8; Table 2	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFBFFB84144001096E7F9C8.taxon	etymology	Etymology Named after the British botanist Dr David R. Hunt in recognition of his extensive contribution to Commelinaceae systematics worldwide, especially his contributions to Tradescantieae Meisn. and the gem-fruited Commelina.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFBFFB84144001096E7F9C8.taxon	materials_examined	Type material BRAZIL – Rio de Janeiro • Itatiaia, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, subida para o brejo da Lapa, beira de estrada; 24 Jan. 2012; fl., fr.; M. O. O. Pellegrini & L. S. Sylvestre 191; holotype: RB [RB 01025642]!; isotypes: SPF!, US!. Selected material examined BRAZIL – Minas Gerais • Lima Duarte, Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca, Conceição do Ibitipoca, gruta do Pião; 18 Jan. 2005; fl.; R. C. Forzza et al. 3926; RB, SPF, UEC. – Rio de Janeiro • Itatiaia, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, estrada para parte alta, arredores do Brejo da Lapa, Floresta Ombrófila Densa Alto-Montana; fl.; 7 Dec. 2017; M. B. Plumm et al. 102; RFA. – São Paulo • Itararé, divisa entre as Fazendas Santa Andreia e Prieto; 14 May 1989; fl.; C. A. M. Scaramuzza & V. C. Souza 259; ESA.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFBFFB84144001096E7F9C8.taxon	description	Description Herbs 15 – 50 cm tall, prostrate to ascending, perennial, delicate, terrestrial. Roots fibrous, thin. Rhizome short. Stems monomorphic, base prostrate, apex ascending, branched throughout; internodes 2.2 – 11.1 cm long, distally shorter, light green to green, minutely velutine to minutely pilose, with a line of acicular hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs hyaline. Leaves distichously-alternate, slightly congested at the apex of the stem, sessile; sheaths 1.4 – 2.6 cm long, light green, sometimes suffused purple or vinaceous, longitudinally striated green, pilose, hairs acicular, hyaline, with a line of setose hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs acicular, rusty to rusty-brown, margin upright, densely setose, hairs acicular, rusty to rusty-brown; blades 3.3 – 11.6 × (0.9 –) 1.6 – 3.3 cm, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, rarely ovate, straight, chartaceous, adaxially dark green to green, abaxially light green to light green tinted vinaceous to completely vinaceous, adaxially scabrid with prickle-hairs, abaxially minutely villous, pilose along the midvein, hairs hyaline, base asymmetric, obtuse, rarely cuneate, margin flat, scabrid with prickle-hairs, apex acuminate; midvein conspicuous, adaxially impressed, abaxially prominently obtuse, secondary veins (3 –) 4 – 6 pairs, adaxially conspicuous, abaxially inconspicuous, becoming more conspicuous on both sides when dry. Synflorescence composed of a solitary main florescence or main florescence plus 1 – 3 co-florescences, restricted to the apex of the stems. Inflorescences terminal or apparently so, peduncle 1.3 – 5.5 mm long, rarely inconspicuous, shorter than ½ length of the spathe, straight, puberulous to densely puberulous with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; spathe 0.7 – 2 × 1.4 – 3.2 cm, depressed ovate to subcordate, patent to the peduncle, concolourous with the leaves, internally conspicuously mucilaginous, base connate up to mid-length, truncate to subcordate, externally minutely villous with eventual cilia, hairs hyaline, cilia rusty to rusty-brown, margin flat, apex obtuse to acute, usually slightly falcate, veins 3 – 4 pairs, inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous when dry; upper cincinnus developed, 2 – 5 - flowered, flowers mainly staminate, sometimes bisexual, peduncle (0.7 –) 1.7 – 2.4 cm long, exserted, gently decurved at pre-anthesis, anthesis, post-anthesis and fruit, sparsely to densely puberulous with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; lower cincinnus 2 – 4 - flowered, flowers mainly bisexual, sometimes staminate, peduncle 0.5 – 1 cm long, thickened in fruit, glabrous to sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs. Flowers chasmogamous, strongly zygomorphic, enantiostylous (style dislocated to the opposite side to the medial stamen); floral buds 3.1 – 4.4 × 1.6 – 3.2 mm, obovoid, white to light green, glabrous; pedicel 1.6 – 4.7 mm long, deflexed in bud and at anthesis, reflexed and elongating in fruit, light green, glabrous; sepals hyaline, persistent and accrescent in fruit, dorsal sepal 3.4 – 4.2 × 1.1 – 1.4 mm, elliptic, concave, glabrous, apex round, lower sepals 4.1 – 6.2 × 2.2 – 3.9 mm, shortly-clawed, connate up to mid-length, oblique-obovate, glabrous, apex round; paired petals 4.2 – 6.9 × 3.2 – 5.4 mm, clawed, claw 1.1 – 2 mm long, white to pale vinaceous, limb 3.9 – 5.3 × 3.2 – 5.4 mm, widely rotund to rotund-reniform, white, base asymmetric, subcordate to cordate, apex round to slightly emarginate, medial petal 3.1 – 4 × 1 – 1.4 mm, sessile, oblong to oblong-spathulate, 2 - auriculate, apex involute, concolourous with the paired petals, hyaline, glabrous on both sides, apex obtuse to round; staminodes 3, medial staminode equal to the laterals, filaments 2.8 – 3.6 mm long, arcuate-recurved, apex recurved to strongly recurved, white, tan-coloured to vinaceous, antherodes 1 – 1.2 × 1.2 – 1.6 mm, X-shaped, yellow, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes present, non-polliniferous or producing very few grains, not apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes conspicuous, very widely obovate, larger than the lower, lower lobes widely obovate; lateral filaments 5.1 – 6.6 mm long, gently sigmoid, geniculate distal to the middle, apex recurved, white, base light green, apex tan-coloured to vinaceous, anthers 1.1 – 1.6 × 0.5 – 1 mm, held near to the medial anther, oblong to elliptic, pale orange-yellow to pale apricot-coloured, margin tinted purple to atro-purpureous, connective pale orange-yellow to pale apricot-coloured, margin tinted purple to atro-purpureous, pollen yellowish-orange to cream-orange, drying orange-yellow to pale apricot; medial filament 2.2 – 2.8 mm long, straight to arcuate-recurved, apex recurved to strongly recurved, white, apex sometimes tan-coloured to vinaceous, anther 1.5 – 2.6 × 1.3 – 2.4 mm, held near the antherodes and lateral anthers, widely oblong to widely elliptic, slightly curved, pale orange-yellow to pale apricot, connective shield-shaped, pale orange-yellow to pale apricot, with a vinaceous to atro-vinaceous spot at centre, anther sacs not appressed to each other, pollen yellowish-orange to cream-orange, drying orange-yellow to pale apricot; ovary 0.9 – 1.4 × 0.6 – 1 mm, 3 - carpellate, 5 - ovulate, oblongoid, light green, sparsely papillose, papillae black, puberulous with glandular microhairs, style 7.3 – 11.3 mm long, equalling or exceeding the stamens, sigmoid, base cylindric, apex strongly recurved, white, base light green, apex tan-coloured, deciduous in fruit, stigma trilobate, white. Capsules 1 – 2 per spathe, 5.5 – 8.1 × 3.9 – 5 mm, obovoid, sessile, fruit wall thin, apex truncate to round, constricted between the seeds, tan-coloured when mature, shiny, sparsely papillose, papillae black, 3 - locular, unequally 2 - valved, dorsal locule 1 - seeded, indehiscent, ventral locules 2 - seeded, dehiscent, valves splitting to base. Seeds dimorphic, dark brown with orange-brown verrucae; dorsal locule seed 3.4 – 4.2 × 2.8 – 3.3 mm, adnate to the fruit wall, ellipsoid, strongly dorsiventrally compressed, ventrally flattened, not cleft towards the embryotega, testa shallowly foveolate, non-farinose, embryotega semilateral, inconspicuous, without a prominent apicule, hilum linear, ca ½ the length of the seed, on a weak ridge; ventral locule seeds 2.7 – 4 × 2 – 2.4 mm, free from the fruit wall, ellipsoid, truncate at one end, ventrally flattened, not cleft towards the embryotega, testa foveolate, sparsely farinose, farinae apricot, embryotega semilateral, inconspicuous, without a prominent apicule, hilum curved, ca ½ the length of the seed, on a weak ridge.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFBFFB84144001096E7F9C8.taxon	distribution	Distribution Endemic to the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo, Brazil (Fig. 8).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFBFFB84144001096E7F9C8.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology Commelina huntii grows in the understory of moist and shaded nebular forests in the Atlantic rainforest biome, generally near water bodies at elevations from 800 to 1700 m above sea level. In rare cases, it can also be found in open, sometimes disturbed, areas. Phenology Commelina huntii blooms from November to June and fruits from December to March, rarely in June.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFBFFB84144001096E7F9C8.taxon	vernacular_names	Vernacular names Trapoeraba branca (Brazil), trapoeraba da Bocáina (Brazil).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFBFFB84144001096E7F9C8.taxon	conservation	Conservation Despite the wide EOO (130 546 km 2), the AOO (ca 196 km 2) is considerably reduced. Following the IUCN (2012) criteria and the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) recommendations, Pellegrini & Forzza (2017) suggested C. huntii should be considered Endangered (EN), but with the incorrect criteria and subcriteria. Observed populations tend to have few mature individuals (ca 40), and clonal reproduction seems to be the prevalent and most successful strategy (Pellegrini, pers. obs.). Populations are commonly threatened by a decrease in habitat quality (mainly due to competition with invasive species) and deforestation. Thus, based on updated and improved data, we update and improve the conservation assessment for C. huntii as Endangered (EN) based on further criteria [B 2 ab (ii, iii), c (iv) + C 2 a (i)].	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFBFFB84144001096E7F9C8.taxon	discussion	Remarks Commelina huntii can be recognised by its white flowers with an auriculate medial petal and sparsely papillose ovary and capsules. It is similar to C. obliqua and C. rufipes due to their white flowers and rusty hairs on the leaf-sheaths. However, it can be readily distinguished from both species by its spathe base connate for 3 – 6 mm (vs only basally connate), auriculate medial petal without a medial constriction (vs entire with a constriction in C. obliqua — previously known as C. rufipes var. glabrata (D. R. Hunt) Faden & D. R. Hunt; see comments below —, and entire without a medial constriction in C. rufipes), fruits dehiscent, ellipsoid, tan-coloured and not crustaceous (vs indehiscent, pearly-white to silvery and crustaceous for both species, widely ellipsoid to widely oblongoid in C. obliqua, and subglobose to globose in C. rufipes), and by its free and ornamented seeds (vs seeds adnate to the fruit septa, forming a dispersal unit, with smooth to inconspicuously foveolate testa). Commelina huntii is most similar to C. robusta Kunth due to its oblique leaf-blades, persistently connate spathe base, dehiscent capsules, and ventral seeds free with foveolate testa (Table 2). Nevertheless, C. huntii can be distinguished by its densely setose leaf-sheath margin with rusty to rusty-brown hairs (vs leaf-sheath margin long-ciliate with red to dark red to atro-vinaceous hairs in C. robusta), petals white (vs blue to light blue to lilac to pale lilac), paired petals limb widely rhombic to rhombic reniform (vs widely ovate to widely ovate reniform), medial petal concave and 2 - auriculate (vs involute and entire), anthers of the lateral stamens light yellow to cream-coloured with margin tinted vinaceous (vs completely orange); ovary and capsules sparsely black papillate (vs smooth), 1 – 2 capsules per spathe (vs 5 – 7), seeds with apricot-coloured farinae (vs seeds white-farinose), and dorsal locule seeds with shallowly foveolate testa (vs rugose-foveolate testa) (Table 2).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFFFF84415507A49518FA7F.taxon	description	Figs 6, 9; Table 1	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFFFF84415507A49518FA7F.taxon	etymology	Etymology The epithet is a combination of the Ancient Greek terms ʻ λεῖΟς ʼ (leîos, meaning ʻsmoothʼ) + ʻ Καρπός ʼ (karpós, meaning ʻfruitʼ), in reference to its smooth and indehiscent capsules.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFFFF84415507A49518FA7F.taxon	materials_examined	Type material HONDURAS – Tiger Island • Gulf of Fonseca; s. dat.; fl., fr.; A. Sinclair s. n.; lectotype: K [K 000363260]!, designated by Hassemer (2018 b); isolectotype: K [K 000363261]!. Selected material examined North America MEXICO – Colima • s. loc.; 9 Jan. – 6 Feb. 1891; fl., fr.; E. Palmer 1147; K, US 3 ex. Central America BELIZE – Toledo • in acahual, on hill slope near San Antonio; 5 Nov. 1951; fl., fr.; P. H. Gentle 7509; K, MEXU, MO, US. EL SALVADOR – Ahuachapán • vicinity of Ahuachapán; 9 Jan. 1922; fl., fr.; P. C. Standley 19805; F, MO, US. GUATEMALA – Retalhuleu • Retalhuleu; 14 Jan. 1907; fl., fr.; W. A. Kellerman 6052; US 2 ex. HONDURAS – Intibucá • alrededores de Yamaranguila, llanos El Obispo; Jul. 1973; fr.; J. R. Martínez & C. Bejarano 127; MO, TEFH.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFFFF84415507A49518FA7F.taxon	description	Description Herbs 50 – 200 cm tall, scrambling-fruticose to erect-fruticose, perennial, robust, terrestrial. Roots tuberous, cylindric. Rhizome short. Stems dimorphic, fibrous, branched in the upper half or upper third, primary branches erect, secondary branches longer than the primary branches, scrambling or twining, apex patent; internodes 1.4 – 11.5 cm long, distally shorter, green suffused with red to completely red, scabrid with a mixture of prickle- and hook-hairs, hairs hyaline. Leaves distichously-alternate, pseudopetiolate; sheaths 0.9 – 2.5 cm long, light green suffused with red to completely red, scabrid with a mixture of prickle- and hook-hairs, hairs hyaline, margin upright, setose, hairs acicular, hyaline; pseudopetiole 2.6 – 7.4 mm long; blades 2.5 – 15 × 1 – 3.4 cm, lanceolate to ovate, straight, membranous to thinly chartaceous, adaxially green to dark green, abaxially light green to green, adaxially sparsely scabrid with prickle-hairs, sometimes also sparsely pilose along the midvein, hairs hyaline, abaxially scabrid with prickle-hairs and pilose along the midvein, hairs hyaline, base asymmetric, obtuse to round, margin flat, papillose, apex acuminate to long-acuminate; midvein conspicuous, adaxially impressed, abaxially prominently obtuse, secondary veins 3 – 4 pairs, adaxially conspicuous, abaxially inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous on both sides when dry. Synflorescence composed of a solitary main florescence, restricted to the apex of the stems and forming a dense second-degree synflorescence. Inflorescences leaf-opposed, peduncle 0.9 – 4.1 cm long, ca the same length as or longer than ½ length of the spathe, pendulous, scabrid with a mixture of prickle- and hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; spathe 2.1 – 5.5 × 1.4 – 3.6 cm, cordate, continuous to the peduncle and pointing downwards, internally inconspicuously mucilaginous, base free, cordate, externally glabrous to sparsely scabrid with a mixture of prickle- and hook-hairs, apex acuminate, slightly falcate, veins 4 – 5 pairs, inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous when dry; upper cincinnus vestigial, flowerless, peduncle inconspicuous or up to 2.5 mm long, included, gently recurved at pre-anthesis and anthesis, recurved and exserted at post-anthesis and fruit, glabrous with some odd hook-hairs towards the apex, hairs hyaline; lower cincinnus 2 – 5 - flowered, flowers mainly bisexual, rarely staminate, peduncle 1 – 1.8 cm long, thickened in fruit, sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs towards the apex. Flowers chasmogamous, zygomorphic, enantiostylous (style dislocated to the opposite side to the medial stamen); floral buds 4.4 – 6.8 × 2.1 – 3.4 mm, obovoid, light green or white to light blue, glabrous; pedicel 3.7 – 7.3 mm long, deflexed in bud and at anthesis, reflexed and elongating in fruit, light green, sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; sepals light green, opaque, early deciduous in fruit, dorsal sepal 3.5 – 6.2 × 1.8 – 2.5 mm, elliptic to narrowly triangular, concave, glabrous, apex acute, lower sepals 3.6 – 6.6 × 2.4 – 3.2 mm, sessile, free, ovate to widely ovate, concave, glabrous, apex acute; paired petals 0.8 – 1.7 × 0.5 – 1.5 cm, clawed, claw 2.4 – 4.6 mm long, light blue, limb 5.3 – 12.4 × 5.4 – 15.1 mm, widely reniform to widely rhombic-reniform, blue to sky blue, base asymmetric, hastate, apex obtuse, medial petal 4.6 – 8.5 × 4.1 – 7.9 mm, shortly-clawed, claw 0.6 – 1 mm long, light blue, limb 4.6 – 8.3 × 4.1 – 7.9 mm, widely sagittate, entire, concave to strongly concave, concolourous with the paired petals, opaque, glabrous on both sides, apex cuspidate; staminodes 2, medial staminode completely absent, filaments 4.1 – 5.8 mm long, straight to slightly sinuate, apex straight to decurved, sky blue, base sometimes light blue, antherodes 1.2 – 1.5 × 0.6 – 1.2 mm, V-shaped, white, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes absent, apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes absent, smaller than the lower, lower lobes filiform; lateral filaments 5.4 – 7.9 mm long, gently sigmoid, geniculate distal to the middle, apex gently recurved, light blue, apex sky blue, anthers 1.2 – 1.8 × 0.7 – 1 mm, near the medial anther, sagittate, yellow, connective white to cream-coloured, pollen pale yellow, drying yellow; medial filament 4.3 – 5.9 mm long, straight to arcuate-decurved, light blue, apex sky blue, anther 1.9 – 3.3 × 0.8 – 1.2 mm, held near the lateral anthers, sagittate, strongly curved, yellow, connective sagittate, white to cream-coloured, anther sacs appressed to each other, pollen pale yellow, drying yellow; ovary 1.5 – 2.7 × 1 – 1.9 mm, 3 - carpellate, 5 - ovulate, ellipsoid to widely ellipsoid, green, smooth, glabrous, style 0.8 – 1.1 cm long, twice as long as the stamens, gently sigmoid, base tapering into the ovary, apex straight to gently recurved, light blue, base light green, apex sky blue, persistent in fruit, stigma truncate, sky blue. Capsules 2 – 5 per spathe, 5.1 – 8.9 × 4.8 – 8.4 mm, widely ellipsoid to subglobose to globose, sessile, fruit wall thick, apex round to apiculate due to the persistent style base, not constricted between the seeds when mature, dark blue to bluish-black to black when mature, glaucous, smooth, 3 - locular, indehiscent, dorsal locule 1 - seeded, indehiscent, ventral locules 2 - seeded, indehiscent. Seeds monomorphic, 2.7 – 4.5 × 2.5 – 4.1 mm, free from the capsule wall, triangular to triangular-ellipsoid, dorsally flattened, ventrally pyramidal, not cleft towards the embryotega, light brown to greyish-brown, testa foveolate, densely farinose, farinae cream-coloured, embryotega semilateral to lateral, inconspicuous, without a prominent apicule, hilum linear, ca the same length as the seed.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFFFF84415507A49518FA7F.taxon	distribution	Distribution Commelina leiocarpa ranges from Mexico to western Honduras (Fig. 6).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFFFF84415507A49518FA7F.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology It grows in the understory of dry forests and at the edges of rainforests in open environments. Phenology It was found in bloom and fruits from October to December.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFFFF84415507A49518FA7F.taxon	conservation	Conservation Commelina leiocarpa is widely distributed, with wide EOO (1 529 386 km 2) and AOO (ca 1704 km 2), and does not meet the thresholds for criterium B. There is no information on its populational trends or its current threats. Thus, following the IUCN (2012) criteria and the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) recommendations, we suggest C. leiocarpa should be considered as Least Concern (LC, criterium B).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFFFF84415507A49518FA7F.taxon	vernacular_names	Vernacular names Chipil de piedra chicsé (Mexico), matalín (Mexico), hierba de pollo (El Salvador).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFFFFF84415507A49518FA7F.taxon	discussion	Remarks Commelina leiocarpa has been, up until now, circumscribed in a much broader sense to include C. efoveolata. Despite their gross morphology similarities, especially regarding their vining habit and gem-like fruits, both species differ in distribution, stem, leaf-blade, spathe and sepal pubescence, petal colouration, antherodes morphology and colouration, and seed morphology (Table 2). Furthermore, C. leiocarpa is superficially similar to C. almandina sp. nov., C. pallida and C. texcocana due to inflorescence architecture and floral morphology. Nonetheless, C. leiocarpa can be differentiated from all three species by its peduncle pendulous (vs straight), spathe slightly falcate with base cordate (vs straight, subcordate to round), pedicel with hook-hairs (vs acicular hairs), style twice as long as the stamens (vs slightly longer than the stamens), stigma sky-blue (vs white), fruits indehiscent, glaucous, not constricted between the seeds, apex round (vs dehiscent, 3 - valved, opaque, constricted between the seeds when mature, rostrate), style persistent (vs deciduous), and seeds monomorphic, triangular and ventrally pyramidal (vs dimorphic, ellipsoid and ventrally flattened) (Table 2). Despite being described as a variety of C. efoveolata, Phaeosphaerion efoveolatum var. repens can be unambiguously confirmed to be conspecific with C. leiocarpa. The holotype shows the typical vegetative and reproductive morphology for the species, with membranous and wide leaf-blades, sky blue flowers with the medial petal cuspidate at apex, antherodes V-shaped and white, lateral and medial anthers pale yellow, fruits dark blue, and seeds distinctively foveolate. Thus, it is kept by us as a synonym of C. leiocarpa.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFC3FF8C41BC071E90BEFC13.taxon	description	Figs 10 – 11; Table 3	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFC3FF8C41BC071E90BEFC13.taxon	etymology	Etymology From the Latin ʻ oblīqua ʼ (meaning ʻslanting, awry, obliqueʼ), in reference to its oblique and asymmetrical leaf-blade base.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFC3FF8C41BC071E90BEFC13.taxon	materials_examined	Type material COUNTRY UNKNOWN • s. loc., cultivated in France, ex Horto Celsii; s. dat.; fl.; Ventenat s. n.; lectotype: C [C 10009563]!, designated by Hunt (1994). Selected material examined North America MEXICO – Oaxaca • Itsmo de Tehuantepec, Juchitán de Zaragoza, La Ventosa; 16 May 2014; fl.; F. Sánchez L. & P. Trujillo V. 815; MEXU, US. West Indies CUBA – Oriente • Sierra de Cristal, banks of Lebisa River; 27 Dec. 1955; fl.; A. H. Liogier & M. López Figueiras 4618; MO, US. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Samaná • La Vaca, N of Los Cacaos, Samaná Peninsula; 15 Mar. 1969; fl., fr.; A. H. Liogier 14417; MO, US. GRENADA – Saint George • Mt. Gilbert, NE of Mt. Maitland; 4 – 10 Mar. 1979; fl., fr.; R. A. Howard & E. S. Howard 18794; NY. PUERTO RICO – Utuado • Bo. Don Alonzo; 9 Jan. 1999; fl.; P. Acevedo-Rodríguez 10534; JBSD, MAPR, NY, UPRRP, US. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – Trinidad • St. George, Mount Tucuche; 9 Mar. 2006; fl., fr.; P. J. M. Maas et al. 9745; U, US. Central America BELIZE – Belize • Bermudian Landing, Belize River; 25 May 1981; fr.; C. Whitefoord 3031; BM, MO, NO. COSTA RICA – Limón • Canton de Talamanca, Fila Carbon, W of Cahuita; 13 Feb. 1991; fl.; P. J. M. Maas 7905; MO, U, US. EL SALVADOR – Ahuachapán • Sierra de Apaneca, in the region of Finca Colima; 17 – 19 Jan. 1922; fr.; P. C. Standley 20203; F, US. GUATEMALA – Huehuetenango • forested slopes in the vicinity of Ixcan, Sierra de los Cuchmantanes; 27 Jul. 1942; fl.; J. A. Steyermark 49432; F. HONDURAS – Cortés • Near Agua Azul; 27 Dec. 1947; fr.; L. O. Williams & A. Molina R. 11353; US. NICARAGUA – Granada • Volcán Mombacho, Hacienda Las Delicias, ca 10 km al SE de ciudad Granada; 11 Oct. 1983; fr.; S. Vega & A. Grijalva 36; MO, US. PANAMA – Panamá • Near Fort Randolph, Canal Zone; 28 Dec 1923; fl.; P. C. Standley 28649; F, US. South America BOLIVIA – Beni • Yacuma, Estacion Biologica Beni Entrada El Triunfo; 4 Jun. 1988; fl.; E. Villanueva & R. Foster 761; LPB, US. BRAZIL – Bahia • Ilhéus, ca 22 Km na estrada Ilhéus / Serra Grande; 10 Aug. 1994; fl., fr.; A. M. V. de Carvalho et al. 4573; CEPEC, HUEFS, NY, RB. COLOMBIA – Meta • 20 km SE of Villa Vicencia; 17 Mar. 1939; fr.; A. H. Alston 7575; BM, US. ECUADOR – Guayas • Balao, in silvis gregaris; Dec. 1891; fl.; H. F. A. von Eggers 14141; L, US. FRENCH GUIANA – Maripasoula • Mont Galbao, secteur Est., Crète Nord-Sud; 14 Jan. 1986; fr.; J. J. Granville et al. 8687; BR, CAY, MG, MO, NY, P, U, US. GUYANA – East Berbice-Corentyne • Corentyne River; Sep. 1879; fl.; E. F. Thurn s. n.; P [P 01795525, P 01795526]. PERU – San Martín • Mariscal Cáceres, Dtto. Tocache Nuevo, Quebrada Ishichimi, cerca al Fundo del Sr. Luis Ludeña; 9 Nov. 1980; fl., fr.; J. Schunke-Vigo 12409; RB, US 2 ex. SURINAME – Sipaliwini • Large island in Litani River, 6 km upstream from its confluence with Marowini River to form Lawa River; 1 Apr. 1998; fl., fr.; B. Hammel et al. 21225; MO, U 2 ex. VENEZUELA – Delta Amacuro • Mountain area ca 13 km by road ESE of the town of Sierra Imata; 4 – 6 Apr. 1979; fr.; G. Davidse & A. C. González 16612; MO, US, VEN.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFC3FF8C41BC071E90BEFC13.taxon	description	Description Herbs 30 – 120 cm tall, ascending to scrambling, perennial, robust, terrestrial or paludal. Roots fibrous, thin. Rhizome short. Stems monomorphic, ascending, branched; internodes 0.6 – 5.8 cm long, distally shorter, green, glabrous, sometimes with a line of acicular hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs hyaline or rusty to rusty-brown. Leaves distichously-alternate, evenly distributed along the stem, pseudopetiolate; sheaths 0.3 – 2.6 cm long, light green, generally suffused or speckled or longitudinally striated with magenta to red to vinaceous, sometimes completely magenta to red to vinaceous, glabrous, sometimes with a sparse setose line of hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs acicular, light brown to rusty, margin upright, glabrous to sparsely setose, hairs acicular, light brown to rusty; pseudopetiole 1.2 – 4.6 mm long; blades (1.3 – 1.9 –) 4.5 – 19.4 × (0.5 – 0.7 –) 1.3 – 5 cm, lanceolate to ovate, sometimes elliptic, straight, thinly chartaceous to chartaceous, adaxially dark green to green, abaxially light green, adaxially glabrous to scabrid with prickle-hairs, abaxially glabrous, base asymmetric to strongly asymmetric, one side cuneate the other round, margin slightly revolute, glabrous to scabrid with prickle-hairs, apex acuminate to long-acuminate; midvein conspicuous, adaxially canaliculate, abaxially prominently obtuse, secondary veins 2 – 3 pairs, adaxially conspicuous, abaxially conspicuous, becoming more conspicuous on both sides when dry. Synflorescence composed of a solitary main florescence, restricted to the apex of the stems. Inflorescences terminal or apparently so, peduncle 0.2 – 1 cm long, shorter than ½ length of the spathe, straight, glabrous to puberulous with hook-hairs, sometimes with a line of acicular hairs opposite to the spathe, hairs hyaline; spathe 1.9 – 4.5 × 2.4 – 4.8 cm, very widely ovate to depressed ovate, patent to the peduncle, pale greenish-white to greenish-white to pale greenish-yellow, sometimes margin magenta to vinaceous, internally conspicuously mucilaginous, base only basally connate, splitting open and marcescent in fruit, subcordate, externally glabrous to ciliate with hook-hairs, hairs hyaline, margin flat, apex acuminate, slightly falcate, veins 5 – 6 pairs, conspicuous, becoming more conspicuous when dry; upper cincinnus developed, 2 – 6 - flowered, flowers mainly staminate, rarely bisexual, peduncle 1.1 – 2.3 cm long, exserted, decurved at pre-anthesis and anthesis, sometimes strongly decurved to J-shaped at post-anthesis and fruit, sparsely to densely puberulous with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; lower cincinnus 6 – 10 - flowered, flowers mainly bisexual, sometimes staminate, peduncle 0.6 – 1.4 cm long, thickened in fruit, glabrous to sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs. Flowers chasmogamous, strongly zygomorphic, enantiostylous (style dislocated to the opposite side to the medial stamen); floral buds 1.9 – 6.3 × 2.3 – 7.1 mm, obovoid, light green to pale greenish-yellow to white, glabrous; pedicel 2.1 – 4.5 mm long, deflexed in bud and at anthesis, reflexed and elongating in fruit, light green to pale greenish-yellow, sparsely puberulous to puberulous with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; sepals hyaline, early deciduous in fruit, dorsal sepal 4.3 – 5.2 × 2.4 – 3.5 mm, elliptic, concave, glabrous, apex acute, lower sepals 5.3 – 6.7 × 2.7 – 4.9 mm, shortly-clawed, connate up to mid-length, oblique-obovate, concave, glabrous, apex obtuse to round; paired petals 1 – 1.3 × 0.8 – 1 cm, clawed, claw 4.5 – 5.6 mm long, white, limb 5.4 – 6.9 × 7.9 – 9.6 mm, widely rhombic-reniform to reniform, white, base asymmetric, cordate, apex obtuse to slightly emarginate, medial petal 5.9 – 7.1 × 0.7 – 1.2 mm, sessile, lanceolate, entire, margin revolute at mid-length forming a medial constriction, concolourous with the paired petals, opaque, glabrous on both sides, apex acute to acuminate; staminodes (2 –) 3, medial staminode equal to the laterals, rarely medial staminode completely absent or greatly reduced and lacking the antherode, filaments 3.7 – 4.8 mm long, straight to arcuate-decurved, white, base sometimes pale greenish-yellow, antherodes 1.2 – 2.7 × 0.5 – 1.4 mm, narrowly hastate, pale yellow, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes present, non-polliniferous or producing very few grains, not apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes conspicuous, oblong, smaller than the lower, lower lobes oblanceolate; lateral filaments 5.9 – 8.2 mm long, very gently sigmoid to gently sigmoid, geniculate distal to the middle, apex recurved, white, base sometimes pale greenish-yellow, anthers 1.4 – 3 × 0.7 – 1.6 mm, held near the antherodes, elliptic to ovate, yellow, connective pale yellow to yellow, pollen pale yellow, drying yellow; medial filament 3.7 – 5.1 mm long, arcuate-decurved to gently sigmoid, apex recurved to strongly recurved, white, base sometimes pale greenish-yellow, anther 2.4 – 3.8 × 1.5 – 2.2 mm, held near the medial petal, widely sagittate, straight to slightly curved, pale yellow to yellow, connective saddle-shaped, pale yellow to yellow, anther sacs not appressed to each other, pollen pale yellow to yellow, drying yellow; ovary 1.2 – 1.4 × 1 – 1.3 mm, 3 - carpellate, 5 - ovulate, ellipsoid to widely ellipsoid, white to pale greenish-yellow, smooth, densely puberulous with glandular microhairs, style 5.3 – 7.1 mm long, exceeding the stamens, gently sigmoid to sigmoid, base cylindric, apex strongly recurved, white, base sometimes pale greenish-yellow, deciduous in fruit, stigma truncate, white. Capsules 6 – 9 per spathe, 5.3 – 7.1 × 4.2 – 5.8 mm, widely ellipsoid to widely oblongoid, short-stipitate, stipe 0.3 – 0.9 mm long, fruit wall thin, crustaceous, apex round, generally apiculate due to the persistent style base, not constricted between the seeds, pearly-white to silvery when mature, shiny, smooth, 3 - locular, indehiscent, dorsal locule 1 - seeded, ventral locules 2 - seeded. Seeds monomorphic, 2.6 – 4.3 × 1.9 – 3 mm, the dorsal seed slightly larger than the ventral ones, all seeds adnate to the fruit wall and septa forming a dispersal unit, ellipsoid to triangular-ellipsoid, dorsally slightly flattened, ventrally pyramidal, not cleft towards the embryotega, dark grey to black, testa inconspicuously foveolate, non-farinose, embryotega lateral, inconspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum linear, longer than ½ the length of the seed.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFC3FF8C41BC071E90BEFC13.taxon	distribution	Distribution Commelina obliqua is widely distributed, extending from Mexico and the West Indies to Bolivia and Northeastern and Central-Western Brazil (Fig. 11). The specimens cited by Pellegrini & Forzza (2017) for Southeastern Brazil (State of Rio de Janeiro) actually represent C. scabrata and, thus, are excluded from this species’ distribution range.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFC3FF8C41BC071E90BEFC13.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology It is found growing in the understory of rainforests and seasonally dry forests. Phenology It was found in bloom from March to December and with fruits from November to April.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFC3FF8C41BC071E90BEFC13.taxon	vernacular_names	Vernacular names Trapoeraba branca (Brazil), manobi-morotí (Brazil), andacá-morotí (Brazil), Anda ka’a morotî (Brazil – Guarani), zapupa (El Salvador).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFC3FF8C41BC071E90BEFC13.taxon	conservation	Conservation Commelina obliqua presents wide EOO (19 023 054 km 2) and AOO (ca 3624 km 2) and does not meet the thresholds for criterium B. There is no information on its populational trends or its current threats. Thus, following the IUCN (2012) criteria and the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) recommendations, we suggest it should be considered as Least Concern (LC, criterium B).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFC3FF8C41BC071E90BEFC13.taxon	discussion	Nomenclatural remarks The name Commelina obliqua has, up until now, been erroneously applied to the blue-flowered species correctly named C. robusta. This confusion is rooted in Hunt (1981, 1983), which was posteriorly reinforced by Faden & Hunt (1987) and has survived up to now. Faden & Hunt (1987) reduced the genera Athyrocarpus, Commelinopsis and Phaeosphaerion to synonyms of Commelina based on the difficulty of differentiating these genera in the absence of fruiting material. Despite this being true and the gem-fruited species having evolved independently many times in Commelina (Pellegrini et al. in prep.), the gem-fruited species can be differentiated from closely related species based on vegetative, inflorescence and floral characters (see identification key). For instance, C. obliqua can be differentiated from C. robusta based on its pseudopetiolate leaves (vs sessile in C. robusta), leaf-blade margin slightly revolute (vs flat), apex acuminate to long-acuminate (vs obtuse to acute), spathe slightly falcate (vs straight), only basally connate and subcordate (vs connate on the basal half to almost completely connate and truncate), much lighter than the leaves in vivo (vs the same colour as the leaves), the fused base splitting open in fruit (vs remaining fused), petals white (vs light blue to blue to sky blue or pale lilac to lilac), medial staminode aborted (vs present), and stigma trilobate (vs truncate). Regarding fruit and seed morphology, C. robusta can be differentiated from C. obliqua based on its fruits being sessile, dehiscent, constricted between the seeds and tan-coloured or off-white when mature (vs short-stipitate, indehiscent, not constricted between the seeds, crustaceous and pearly-white to silvery when mature in C. obliqua), seeds dimorphic, ellipsoid, ventrally flattened, not adnate to the fruit wall and septa and each dispersed individually (vs monomorphic, triangular, ventrally pyramidal, all adnate to the fruit wall and septa and forming a dispersal unit), and testa ornate (vs inconspicuously foveolate). While analysing the type specimen of C. obliqua, it became clear that it possesses pseudopetiolate leaves, leaf-blades with slightly revolute margins and long-acuminate apex, spathe slightly falcate, only basally connate with a subcordate base, petals white, and medial staminode aborted. Based on the aforementioned vegetative, inflorescence and floral characters, it was possible to confirm the type specimen of C. obliqua to be conspecific with the plants currently treated under C. rufipes var. glabrata. Thus, as the oldest validly published name at the species rank, C. obliqua is the correct name for the glabrous-leafed, white-flowered, white-fruited species of Neotropical Commelina. Remarks Commelina obliqua is morphologically most similar to C. pseudomonosperma and C. rufipes due to their leaf-blade margin being slightly revolute, spathe only basally connate, much lighter than the leaves in vivo, the fused base splitting open in fruit, pedicels sparsely puberulous to puberulous with minute hook-hairs, medial staminode aborted, style persistent in fruit, stigma truncate, fruits short-stipitate, indehiscent, not constricted between the seeds, crustaceous, pearly-white to silvery when mature; seeds monomorphic, triangular, ventrally pyramidal, all adnate to the fruit wall and septa and forming a dispersal unit, testa smooth (Table 3). Recently, C. obliqua has erroneously been reduced to a synonym of C. rufipes based on their leaf-sheaths with rusty setose marginal hairs, white flowers, and indehiscent white fruits (Hassemer 2020). However, C. obliqua is readily differentiated from C. rufipes by its leaf-sheaths glabrous, margin glabrous to setose, hairs light brown to rusty (vs hirsute throughout, hairs rusty to rusty-brown in C. rufipes), blades lanceolate to ovate, sometimes elliptic, lustrous, thinly chartaceous to chartaceous (vs lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, opaque, membranous), adaxially glabrous to scabrid with prickle-hairs and abaxially glabrous (vs hispid on both sides, hairs hyaline, sparsely hirsute along the midvein and near the base, hairs rusty to rusty-brown), base asymmetric to strongly asymmetric, one side cuneate the other round (vs symmetric, cuneate to obtuse), apex acuminate to long-acuminate (vs acute), spathe very widely ovate to depressed ovate, glabrous, rarely with occasional hook-hairs (vs ovate to widely ovate, hispid with hyaline acicular hairs, sometimes with some rusty hirsute hairs), and medial petal lanceolate (vs very narrowly elliptic to narrowly elliptic) (Table 3). Therefore, C. obliqua is reestablished by us as an accepted species based on consistent morphological characters. Furthermore, if the species in this complex were to be treated as conspecific, the name C. obliqua would take precedence over C. rufipes by around 50 years, requiring it to become the accepted name for these taxa.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCBFF88413F02F99536FADA.taxon	description	Figs 2, 12; Table 1	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCBFF88413F02F99536FADA.taxon	etymology	Etymology From the Latin ʻ palleō ʼ (meaning ʻpale, losing colourʼ) + the suffix ʻ - ida ʼ (meaning ʻtending toʼ), in reference to its pale lilac to lilac flowers.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCBFF88413F02F99536FADA.taxon	materials_examined	Type material MEXICO – Querétaro • originally collected at the mountainous plateaus between Queretaro and San Juan del Rio, cultivated at the Berlin Botanic Garden; s. dat.; fl., fr.; A. J. A. Bonpland & F. W. H. A. von Humboldt s. n.; lectotype: B [B-W 01051 - 010]!, pro parte, material on the left, designated here; isolectotype: P [P 00669531]!. Selected material examined MEXICO – México • Villa de Guadalupe, Bilimek; 17 Aug. 1869; fl.; E. Cosson 437; P 2 ex. – Morelos • wet barranca above Cuernavaca; 21 Sep. 1896; fl.; C. G. Pringle 6567; E [E 01026662], pro parte, specimen on the right, P [P 01741878] pro parte, specimen on the left. – Puebla • vicinity of Puebla; 15 Aug. 1906; fl.; G. Arsène s. n.; US [US 00158908]. – Querétaro • cerca de El Carmen, 11 km al E de Querétaro, sobre el camino a San Juan del Río; 16 Aug. 1986; fl.; J. Rzedowski 40344; MEXU.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCBFF88413F02F99536FADA.taxon	description	Description Herbs 50 – 100 cm tall, scrambling, perennial, robust, terrestrial. Roots tuberous, cylindric, with apical fusiform tubers. Rhizome short. Stems dimorphic, branched in the upper third; internodes 1.8 – 6.2 cm long, distally shorter, green suffused with red to completely red, sparsely strigose to strigose, with a sparse line of acicular hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs hyaline, drying light brown to golden, primary branches ascending, rooting only at the base, secondary branches longer than the primary branches, scrambling, apex suberect to erect. Leaves distichously-alternate, evenly distributed along the upper part of the stem, pseudopetiolate; sheaths 1.2 – 2.8 cm long, red suffused with light green to completely red, strigose, hairs acicular, hyaline, with a sparse line of setose hairs opposite to the blade, hairs acicular, drying light brown to golden, margin upright, ciliate, hairs acicular, drying light brown to golden; pseudopetiole inconspicuous to up to 6.9 mm long; blades (1.3 –) 1.7 – 9.4 × 0.6 – 4.2 cm, elliptic to lanceolate, straight, membranous to thinly chartaceous, adaxially dark green, generally suffused with red to vinaceous near base and along the veins, margin vinaceous, abaxially light green, adaxially sparsely strigose, hairs acicular, drying light brown to golden, abaxially strigose, hairs acicular, drying light brown to golden, base slightly asymmetric to symmetric, obtuse to round, margin flat, scabrid with prickle-hairs, apex acute to acuminate; midvein conspicuous, adaxially impressed, abaxially prominently obtuse, secondary veins 2 – 4 pairs, adaxially conspicuous, abaxially inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous on both sides when dry. Synflorescence composed of a solitary main florescence, restricted to the apex of the stems and forming a dense second-degree synflorescence. Inflorescences leaf-opposed, peduncle 1.5 – 2.6 cm long, the same length or longer than ½ length of the spathe, straight, strigose to densely strigose, hairs acicular, with a line of minute hook-hairs opposed to the spathe, hairs hyaline, drying light brown to golden; spathe 2.3 – 3.1 × 1.8 – 2.7 cm, cordate, oblique to the peduncle and pointing downwards or continuous to the peduncle and pointing upwards, concolourous with the leaves, margin sometimes suffused with vinaceous to red, internally inconspicuously mucilaginous, base free, subcordate to round, externally sparsely strigose to strigose, hairs hyaline, drying light brown to golden, margin flat, apex acute, straight, veins 3 – 4 pairs, inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous when dry; upper cincinnus vestigial, flowerless, peduncle inconspicuous to up to 5.6 mm long, included, gently recurved at pre-anthesis and anthesis, recurved and exserted at post-anthesis and fruit, sparsely puberulous with hook-hairs towards the apex, hairs hyaline; lower cincinnus 2 – 4 - flowered, flowers mainly bisexual, rarely staminate, peduncle 6.8 – 10.3 mm long, thickened in fruit, sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs towards the apex. Flowers chasmogamous, zygomorphic, enantiostylous (style gently dislocated to the opposite side to the medial stamen); floral buds 3.6 – 7.5 × 3.2 – 5.8 mm, obovoid, light green or white to pale lilac, glabrous to dorsally sparsely puberulous, hairs hyaline; pedicel 4.7 – 7.2 mm long, deflexed in bud and at anthesis, reflexed and elongating in fruit, light green, pilose with a mixture of acicular and hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; sepals light green, opaque, persistent and accrescent in fruit, dorsal sepal 4.7 – 5.6 × 1.2 – 1.8 mm, ovate, concave, glabrous to sparsely puberulous along the midvein, when present hairs acicular, short, hyaline, apex acute, lower sepals 5.2 – 6.4 × 2 – 3.2 mm, sessile, free, ovate, concave, glabrous, apex obtuse; paired petals 0.9 – 1 × 0.6 – 0.9 cm, clawed, claw 3.6 – 5.3 mm long, purple to mauve-purple, limb 6.7 – 7.6 × 6.1 – 8.9 mm, very widely reniform, pale lilac to lilac, base asymmetric, truncate, apex obtuse, medial petal 6.4 – 7.2 × 3.9 – 4.8 mm, shortly-clawed, claw 0.8 – 1.5 mm long, pale lilac to lilac, limb 4.3 – 5.8 × 2.8 – 3.9 mm, widely sagittate, entire, concave, concolourous with the paired petals, opaque, glabrous on both sides, apex obtuse to round; staminodes 2 (– 3), medial staminode completely absent or filament present but lacking the antherode, filaments 2.4 – 3.1 mm long, straight to arcuate-decurved, pale mauve to mauve-purple, base mauve to mauve-purple, apex purple, antherodes 0.5 – 0.6 × 0.7 – 0.9 mm, V-shaped, white, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes present, apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes absent to almost so, smaller than the lower, lower lobes spathulate to clavate; lateral filaments 7.4 – 8.9 mm long, gently sigmoid, apex recurved, geniculate distal to the middle, pale mauve to mauve-purple, base mauve to mauve-purple, apex purple, anthers 1.2 – 1.6 × 0.3 – 0.6 mm, held near the antherodes and medial anther, lanceolate-sagittate to sagittate, pale yellow to yellow, connective white to cream-coloured, pollen yellow, drying ochre; medial filament 6 – 7.3 mm long, arcuate-recurved, apex strongly recurved, pale mauve to mauve-purple, base mauve to mauve-purple, apex purple, anther 1.7 – 2.2 × 0.4 – 0.7 mm, held near the lateral anthers, linear sagittate to narrowly sagittate, strongly curved, pale yellow to yellow, connective hastate, white to cream-coloured, anther sacs appressed to each other, pollen yellow, drying ochre; ovary 1.9 – 2.7 × 1 – 1.5 mm, 3 - carpellate, 5 - ovulate, ellipsoid to widely ellipsoid, green, verrucose, glabrous, style 6.6 – 9.3 mm long, equalling or exceeding the stamens, sigmoid, base tapering into the ovary, apex strongly recurved, pale mauve to mauve-purple, base mauve to mauve-purple, apex purple, deciduous in fruit, stigma capitate, yellow. Capsules 1 – 2 per spathe, 5.9 – 7.6 × 3.7 – 4.6 mm, widely ellipsoid to oblongoid, sessile, fruit wall thick, apex rostrate, not constricted between the seeds when imature, becoming constricted between the seeds when mature, tan-coloured when mature, opaque, smooth, 3 - locular, 3 - valved, valves splitting to base, dorsal locule 1 - seeded, dehiscent, ventral locules 2 - seeded, dehiscent. Seeds dimorphic, dark brown to black; dorsal locule seed 3 – 3.4 × 2.2 – 2.5 mm, free from the fruit wall, ellipsoid, dorsiventrally compressed, ventrally flattened, slightly cleft towards the embryotega, testa shallowly rugose, with some small furrows on the side opposed to the embryotega, densely farinose, farinae cream-coloured, embryotega semilateral, inconspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum linear, longer than ½ the length of the seed; ventral locule seeds 2.2 – 2.5 × 2.1 – 2.3 mm, free from the fruit wall, widely ellipsoid, truncate at one end, ventrally flattened, not cleft towards the embryotega, testa shallowly rugose to irregularly rugose, densely farinose, farinae cream-coloured, embryotega semilateral to lateral, inconspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum linear, ca ½ the length of the seed.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCBFF88413F02F99536FADA.taxon	distribution	Distribution Commelina pallida is restricted to Valle de México and is confirmed to occur in the States of México, Morelos, Puebla, and Querétaro (Fig. 2). Specimens previously identified as C. pallida or C. texcocana outside Mexico (e. g., Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica) are the result of taxonomic confusion and represent a myriad of other species, including several members of both the C. diffusa and C. tuberosa groups and are, thus, excluded from the morphological characterisation and geographic distribution of C. pallida.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCBFF88413F02F99536FADA.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology It grows in high-altitude, seasonally dry forests and savannah-like formations, generally between bushes. Phenology It was found in bloom and fruits from August to November.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCBFF88413F02F99536FADA.taxon	vernacular_names	Vernacular name Hierba del pollo (Mexico).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCBFF88413F02F99536FADA.taxon	conservation	Conservation Commelina pallida has a wide EOO (18 824 km 2) but a much narrower AOO (ca 256 km 2). The few known records were mainly collected before 1990, with a handful of records made after 2000. However, photographic records (iNaturalist 240395505, 239622550, 186796637, 186561037, 185768278, 184637360, 136088288, 135211974, 131518107, 130988364, 129549903, 94530608, 60203726, 17634962) confirm that the species is still extant. No information on its populational trends or its current threats is available. Thus, following the IUCN (2012) criteria and the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) recommendations, we suggest C. pallida should be considered Endangered [EN, B 2 b (i, ii, iv), c (ii)].	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCBFF88413F02F99536FADA.taxon	discussion	Nomenclatural remarks The lectotype selected by Hassemer (2020) cannot be accepted since it goes against the original diagnosis and illustration. Therefore, we designate the specimen on the left side of the sheet (B-W 01051 - 010) as the lectotype. The name C. pallida Schltdl. was never published by Schlechtendal (1855: 454) and just represents a citation of C. pallida Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd., an error which has been perpetuated by online databases. Remarks Commelina pallida is morphologically very similar to C. texcocana, and the difference between them has been the source of much debate over the years (e. g., Faden & Hunt 1987; Hunt 1993, 1994, 2001; Espejo-Serna et al. 2009; Hassemer 2020). Following Faden & Hunt (1987) and Hunt (1993, 1994, 2001), most subsequent authors have considered both species as synonyms based on them being scrambling herbs, with synflorescence composed of a solitary main florescence, spathe oblique to the peduncle and pointing downwards or continuous to the peduncle and pointing upwards, all sepals glabrous to only setose along the midvein, the paired petals limb base truncate, antherodes with upper lobes reduced and the lower lobes filiform, anthers yellow, lateral anthers held near the medial anther, stigma capitate, fruits with valves splitting all the way to the base becoming tan-coloured when mature, and brown seeds. Nonetheless, C. pallida can be differentiated from C. texcocana by its stems, leaf-sheaths, leaf-blades and spathe sparsely strigose to strigose with hairs drying light brown to golden (vs stems, leaf-sheaths and blades glabrous, spathe glabrous to velutine, when present hairs hyaline to white in C. texcocana), leaf-blades with base obtuse to round (vs cuneate obtuse to round), spathe with apex acute and straight (vs acuminate and slightly falcate), dorsal sepal glabrous to sparsely puberulous along the midvein (vs setose along the midvein), dorsal sepal ovate (vs elliptic to narrowly triangular), lower sepals parallel and ovate (vs divergent and triangular to widely trullate), petals pale lilac to lilac (vs white to light blue), and antherodes scarcely V-shaped (vs X-shaped) (Table 1). Therefore, C. pallida is reestablished as a distinct species.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCFFF9442E904B796D6FBF7.taxon	description	Figs 11, 13; Table 3	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCFFF9442E904B796D6FBF7.taxon	etymology	Etymology The epithet derives from the combination of the Ancient Greek ʻ ψευδής ʼ (pseud ḗs, meaning ʻlying, falseʼ) + ʻ μόΝΟς ʼ (ʻ mónos ʼ, meaning ʻalone, only, sole, singleʼ) + ʻ σπέρμα ʼ (spérma, meaning ʻseedʼ), in reference to its seeds fused to the fruit wall and septa, giving the impression of being a single seed.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCFFF9442E904B796D6FBF7.taxon	materials_examined	Type material BRAZIL – Mato Grosso • prov. Mato Grosso, in swamp forest near Vila Maria do Paraguai [Cáceres]; Jul. 1892; fr.; O. Kuntze s. n.; lectotype: NY [NY 00247408]!, designated by Hassemer (2020). Material examined BRAZIL – Mato Grosso • Itaúba, Resgate de Flora da Linha de Transmissão da UHE Colíder; 3 Jul. 2017; fl., fr.; M. E. Engels & J. A. O. Freitas 5752; HERBAM, MBM, NX, RB, TANG • Serra do Roncador, vicinity of Nova Xavantina, margins of Rio Mortes; 25 Sep. 1964; fr.; G. T. Prance et al. 59106; MO, NY, US, S.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCFFF9442E904B796D6FBF7.taxon	description	Description Herbs 30 – 90 cm tall, scrambling to prostrate, perennial, robust, terrestrial to paludal. Roots fibrous, thin. Rhizome short. Stems monomorphic, prostrate to scrambling, branched; internodes 0.8 – 9.1 cm long, distally shorter, light green to green, glabrous, with a line of acicular hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs hyaline or rusty to rusty-brown. Leaves distichously-alternate, evenly distributed along the upper part of the stem, pseudopetiolate; sheaths 1 – 2.2 cm long, light green to light green longitudinally striated with green to dark green, glabrous, sometimes speckled with magenta to vinaceous along the margin, margin upright, glabrous to setose, with a line of setose hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs acicular, light brown to rusty; pseudopetiole 1.4 – 5.8 mm long; blades 5.6 – 10.8 × 1.2 – 3.6 cm, lanceolate to ovate, sometimes elliptic, straight, thinly chartaceous to chartaceous, adaxially dark green to green, abaxially light green, glabrous on both sides, sometimes abaxially inconspicuously scabrid along the midvein at base, hairs acicular, hyaline, base asymmetric to strongly asymmetric, one side cuneate the other round, margin slightly revolute, glabrous to scabrid with prickle-hairs, apex acuminate to long-acuminate; midvein conspicuous, adaxially impressed, abaxially prominently obtuse, secondary veins 3 – 4 pairs, adaxially conspicuous, abaxially conspicuous, becoming more conspicuous on both sides when dry. Synflorescence composed of a main florescence plus 1 – 6 co-florescences, axillary and terminal. Inflorescences terminal or apparently so, peduncle 0.3 – 0.9 cm long, shorter than ½ length of the spathe, straight, glabrous to puberulous with hook-hairs, sometimes with a line of acicular hairs opposite to the spathe, hairs hyaline; spathe 1.9 – 2.3 × 2.1 – 3.4 cm, very widely ovate to depressed ovate, patent to the peduncle, pale greenish-yellow to yellowish-green, generally suffused with magenta to vinaceous along the margin, internally conspicuously mucilaginous, base only basally connate, splitting open and marcescent in fruit, truncate to subcordate, externally glabrous, rarely with occasional hook-hairs, hairs hyaline, margin repandous, apex acuminate, slightly falcate, veins 4 – 5 pairs, conspicuous, becoming more conspicuous when dry; upper cincinnus developed, 1 – 2 - flowered, flowers mainly staminate, rarely bisexual, peduncle 1.6 – 3.3 cm long, exserted, straight to gently decurved at pre-anthesis and anthesis, gently recurved at post-anthesis and fruit, sparsely to densely puberulous with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; lower cincinnus 2 – 5 - flowered, flowers mainly bisexual, sometimes staminate, peduncle 0.7 – 1.6 cm long, thickened in fruit, glabrous to sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs. Flowers chasmogamous, strongly zygomorphic, enantiostylous (style gently dislocated to the opposite side to the medial stamen); floral buds 2.6 – 5.8 × 1.4 – 4.2 mm, obovoid, light green to white, glabrous; pedicel 3.2 – 6.9 mm long, deflexed in bud and at anthesis, reflexed and elongating in fruit, light green, sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; sepals hyaline, early deciduous in fruit, dorsal sepal 2.5 – 3.1 × 1.5 – 2.1 mm, elliptic, concave, glabrous, apex obtuse, lower sepals 4.9 – 6.1 × 3.2 – 4.6 mm, shortly-clawed, connate up to mid-length, oblique-obovate, concave, glabrous, apex obtuse; paired petals 0.5 – 0.8 × 0.4 – 0.5 cm, clawed, claw 2.3 – 3.9 mm long, white to pale lavender to light pink, limb 2.9 – 4.4 × 3.4 – 4.9 mm, widely rhombic-reniform to reniform, pale lavender to light pink, base asymmetric, cordate, apex truncate to slightly emarginate, medial petal 5.1 – 6.3 × 2.2 – 3.2 mm, sessile, spathulate to oblanceolate, entire, cucullate, concolourous with the paired petals, opaque, glabrous on both sides, apex round; staminodes 2 – 3, medial staminode completely absent or greatly reduced and lacking the antherode, filaments 2.6 – 3.3 mm long, arcuate-decurved, white, base pale greenish-yellow, apex tan-coloured, antherodes 0.3 – 0.5 × 0.2 – 0.3 mm, subtrapezoid, pale yellow, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes absent, not apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes reduced, smaller than the lower, lower lobes reduced; lateral filaments 4.9 – 6.1 mm long, straight to very gently sigmoid, apex gently recurved, white, base pale greenish-yellow, apex tan-coloured, anthers 0.4 – 0.6 × 0.7 – 1.2 mm, held near the medial stamen, subcordate to cordate, yellow, connective yellow, pollen pale yellow, drying yellow; medial filament 4.7 – 6 mm long, straight or arcuate-recurved, suddenly decurved near the apex, white, base pale greenish-yellow, apex tan-coloured, anther 1 – 1.3 × 0.8 – 1.2 mm, held with the lateral anthers, widely sagittate, straight to slightly curved, yellow, connective saddle-shaped, pale yellow, anther sacs not appressed to each other, connective yellow, pollen pale yellow, drying yellow; ovary 0.8 – 1.1 × 0.7 – 1 mm, 3 - carpellate, 5 - ovulate, widely ellipsoid to subglobose, greenish-yellow to light green, smooth, puberulous with glandular microhairs, style 5.1 – 6.7 mm long, exceeding the stamens, base cylindric, straight to very gently sigmoid, white, base pale greenish-yellow, apex tan-coloured, deciduous in fruit, stigma truncate, tan-coloured. Capsules 2 – 4 per spathe, 4.8 – 6.2 × 4.6 – 5.1 mm, widely obovoid, short-stipitate, stipe 0.8 – 1.2 mm long, fruit wall thin, crustaceous, apex round, not constricted between the seeds, pearly-white to silvery when mature, shiny, smooth, 3 - locular, indehiscent, dorsal locule 1 - seeded, ventral locules 2 - seeded. Seeds monomorphic, 2.2 – 4.3 × 1.6 – 2.7 mm, the dorsal seed slightly larger than the ventral ones, all seeds adnate to the fruit wall and septa forming a dispersal unit, ellipsoid to triangular-ellipsoid, dorsally slightly flattened, ventrally pyramidal, not cleft towards the embryotega, dark grey to black, testa inconspicuously foveolate, non-farinose, embryotega semilateral, inconspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum linear, longer than ½ the length of the seed.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCFFF9442E904B796D6FBF7.taxon	distribution	Distribution Commelina pseudomonosperma is currently endemic to the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil (Fig. 11). Campbell (2008) erroneously reports C. pseudomonosperma for Venezuela based on misidentified specimens of C. obliqua.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCFFF9442E904B796D6FBF7.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology It grows in the understory in seasonally dry forests in the Amazon Forest and Pantanal biomes, between 170 and 280 m a. s. l. (Fig. 11). Phenology It was found in bloom and fruits in July.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCFFF9442E904B796D6FBF7.taxon	vernacular_names	Vernacular names Trapoeraba rosa (Brazil), manobi-pitanguí (Brazil), andacá-pitanguí (Brazil), Anda ka’a pytãngy (Brazil – Guarani).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCFFF9442E904B796D6FBF7.taxon	conservation	Conservation Commelina pseudomonosperma has a wide EOO (117 138 km 2) but a very narrow AOO (ca 16 km 2), being known from only three localities and two collections. Thus, we suggest it should be considered Endangered [EN, B 1 ab (i, ii, v)], following the IUCN (2012) criteria and the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) recommendations.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFCFFF9442E904B796D6FBF7.taxon	discussion	Remarks Campbell (2008) transferred Athyrocarpus pseudomonosperma to Commelina but provided no explanation or rationale for her decision. This decision was most likely based on her lack of knowledge of the group, which led to her not only misapplying the newly presented combination but also greatly expanding the distribution of this narrowly endemic species. Further confusion was caused by Hassemer (2020), who reduced C. pseudomonosperma and C. obliqua (as C. rufipes var. glabrata) to mere synonyms of C. rufipes. These mistakes have been perpetuated by Aona & Amaral (2020), who retained C. pseudomonosperma (as A. pseudomonosperma) and C. obliqua (as C. rufipes var. glabrata) as a synonym of C. rufipes. Despite the obvious similarity between these species (see Remarks on C. obliqua and C. rufipes), C. pseudomonosperma can be readily differentiated from them due to its pale lavender to light pink flowers (Table 3), a character unique in the South American species of Commelina and rare in the genus as a whole. Furthermore, it can be differentiated from C. obliqua (the morphologically most similar species) due to its synflorescences axillary and terminal, composed of main florescence plus 1 – 6 co-florescences (vs terminal and composed of a solitary main florescence in C. obliqua), spathe light green suffused with vinaceous or purple, margin repandous (vs almost white to light green, margin flat), petals pale lavender to light pink (vs white), medial petal cucullate and lacking a medial constriction (vs margin revolute at mid-length, forming a medial constriction), antherodes subtrapezoid, indistinctly lobed, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes absent (vs narrowly hastate, distinctly lobed, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes present), lateral anthers subcordate to cordate (vs elliptic to ovate), style straight to very gently sigmoid (vs sigmoid), and fruits 2 – 4 per spathe, widely obovoid (vs widely ellipsoid to widely oblongoid) (Table 3).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD3FF92414205989038F8B8.taxon	description	Figs 14 – 15; Table 2	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD3FF92414205989038F8B8.taxon	etymology	Etymology The epithet derives from the Latin ʻ rōbur ʼ (a kind of hard oak, or meaning ʻhardness, strengthʼ) + the suffix ʻ - ta ʼ (meaning ʻprovided withʼ), in reference to this species’ large stature (i. e., strong growth).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD3FF92414205989038F8B8.taxon	materials_examined	Type material BRAZIL – Rio de Janeiro • Brasilia meridionalis, Paraíba do Sul; Dec. 1836; fl., fr.; F. Sellow B. 1308 - C. 293; B [B 100296353]!. Selected material examined North America MEXICO – Chiapas • Anel Albino Corzo, slopes with Pinus and Quercus, 3 – 5 km above Jaltenango along the road to Finca Prusia; 11 Oct. 1974; fl.; D. E. Breedlove 38595; K. West Indies TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – Trinidad • Maracas waterfall; 10 Apr. 1920; fl.; N. L. Britton et al. 1645; NY, US. Central America COSTA RICA – Cantón de San Ramón • Cuenca del San Carlos, Los Angeles, 2 km antes del Rio Cataratitas, ruta a Bajo Rodriguez; 28 Jan. 1997; fl., fr.; A. Rodriguez & V. H. Ramirez 1941; INB, K 3 ex, MO. EL SALVADOR – Santa Ana • Metapan, Hacienda San José; 23 Aug. 1951; fl.; O. Rohweder 873; HBG, MO. GUATEMALA – Jutiapa • Between Jutiapa and La Calera, southeast of Jutiapa; 2 Nov. 1940; fl.; P. C. Standley 76117; F. NICARAGUA – Nueva Segovia • 7 km S of La Jungla; 31 Jan. 2010; fl., fr.; W. D. Stevens et al. 29318; HULE, MO. South America ARGENTINA – Misiones • Dep. Candelaria; Alrededores de Loreto, selva secundaria con pequeno arroyo; 25 Mar. 1996; fl.; S. G. Tressens et al. 5536; CTES, K 2 ex. BOLIVIA – La Paz • Prov. Nor Yungas, bajando por Caranavi, de Yolosa 46 km y entrando por San Pedro de León, al lado del rio San Pedro; 2 Jun. 1983; fl., fr.; G. Beck 9206; K, UMSA, US. BRAZIL – Rio de Janeiro • Petrópolis, Quitandinha, Pedra do Quitandinha; 2 May 2010; fl., fr.; M. O. O. Pellegrini 2; RFA. COLOMBIA – Cundinamarca • Guarama near San Francisco; 27 Mar. 1983; fl., fr.; J. R. I. Wood 3567; FMB, K 3 ex. ECUADOR – Zamora-Chinchipe • Along road between Zumba and Vilcabamba, 57.9 km N of Zumba, 9.2 km S of Santa Ana, 6.3 km N of Palanda; 28 Jul. 2004; fl., fr.; T. B. Croat 92498; AAU, MO, US. PARAGUAY – Guaira • Cordillera de Ybytyruzú, Melgarejo-Cerro Acati, 4 km S of Melgarejo on Arroyo Tacuara; 10 Jul. 1992; fl.; E. Zardini & P. Aquino 32579; FCQ, MO, RB, US. PERU – Cajamarca • San Ignacio, San José de Lourdes; 16 Feb. 2000; fl., fr.; J. Campos & R. Vásquez 6435; K, MO, US. VENEZUELA – Trujillo • Boconó, Parque Nacional Guaramacal, Laguna de Aguas Negras, cerca de Batatal; 23 Sep. 2000; fl.; M. Niño et al. 1345; PORT, US.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD3FF92414205989038F8B8.taxon	description	Description Herbs 40 – 250 cm tall, prostrate, ascending or scrambling, perennial, robust, rupicolous, terrestrial or paludal, rarely epiphytic. Roots fibrous, thin. Rhizome short. Stems monomorphic, base prostrate, apex prostrate, ascending or scrambling, branched throughout or branched in the upper third; internodes 0.5 – 18.5 cm long, distally shorter, light green to green, sometimes suffused with red to vinaceous, glaucous, glabrous to scabrid with prickle-hairs, hairs hyaline. Leaves distichously-alternate, slightly congested at the apex of the stem, pseudopetiolate; sheaths 0.7 – 6.5 cm long, light green, suffused with red, to vinaceous to atro-purpureous, glaucous, scabrid with prickle-hairs, sometimes with a line of hirsute hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs acicular, red to dark red to atro-vinaceous, margin upright, hirsute, hairs acicular, red to dark red to atro-vinaceous; pseudopetiole 0.1 – 1.1 cm long; blades (2.5 –) 3.2 – 16.2 × 0.8 – 4.6 cm, lanceolate to ovate, straight, thinly chartaceous, sometimes chartaceous, adaxially dark green to green, abaxially light green, adaxially scabrid with prickle-hairs, abaxially scabrid with prickle-hairs to pilose with acicular hairs, hairs hyaline, base asymmetric, obtuse to round, margin flat, scabrid with prickle-hairs, apex obtuse to acute; midvein conspicuous, adaxially impressed, abaxially prominently obtuse, secondary veins 2 – 3 pairs, adaxially conspicuous, abaxially conspicuous, becoming more conspicuous on both sides when dry. Synflorescence composed of a solitary main florescence or main florescence plus 1 – 10 co-florescences, restricted to the apex of the stems. Inflorescences terminal or apparently so, peduncle 0.3 – 1.8 cm long, shorter than ½ length of the spathe, straight, scabrid with prickle-hairs, hairs hyaline; spathe 0.9 – 3.4 × 2 – 4.3 cm, depressed ovate to widely depressed ovate, rarely very widely ovate, patent to the peduncle, concolourous with the leaves, internally conspicuously mucilaginous, base connate up to mid-length, truncate, externally scabrid with prickle-hairs, hairs hyaline, margin flat, apex obtuse to round, sometimes subtruncate, straight, veins 3 – 4 pairs, inconspicuous, becoming more conspicuous when dry; upper cincinnus developed, 2 – 6 - flowered, flowers mainly staminate, sometimes bisexual, peduncle 1.1 – 4.2 cm long, exserted, straight at pre-anthesis, anthesis, post-anthesis and fruit, puberulous with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; lower cincinnus 3 – 7 - flowered, flowers mainly bisexual, sometimes staminate, peduncle 0.6 – 1.8 cm long, thickened in fruit, puberulous with minute hook-hairs. Flowers chasmogamous, strongly zygomorphic, enantiostylous (style dislocated to the opposite side to the medial stamen); floral buds 1.6 – 7.1 × 1.1 – 7.7 mm, obovoid, light green or white to light blue, glabrous; pedicel 0.4 – 4.8 cm long, deflexed in bud and at anthesis, reflexed and elongating in fruit, light green, glabrous; sepals hyaline, persistent and accrescent in fruit, dorsal sepal 2.1 – 4.6 × 1.7 – 3.2 mm, triangular to widely triangular, concave, glabrous, apex obtuse, lower sepals 3.9 – 6.8 × 2.3 – 5.1 mm, shortly-clawed, connate up to mid-length, oblique-obovate to widely oblique-obovate, concave, glabrous, apex obtuse; paired petals 0.8 – 1.4 × 0.5 – 1.4 cm, clawed, claw 1.4 – 4.7 mm long, pale vinaceous, limb 7.6 – 14.2 × 5.4 – 13.8 mm, very widely ovate-reniform to depressed ovate-reniform, light blue to blue to lilac-blue or pale lilac to lilac, rarely white, base asymmetric, cordate to sagittate, apex obtuse to round to slightly emarginate, medial petal 5.7 – 8.3 × 1.9 – 3.8 mm, sessile, spathulate to obovate, entire, completely involute, discolourous with the paired petals, light blue to pale lilac, hyaline, adaxially glabrous, abaxially puberulous at base with glandular microhairs, apex obtuse; staminodes 3, medial staminode equal to the laterals, filaments 2.3 – 4.7 mm long, straight to arcuate-decurved, vinaceous, base white to tan-coloured, apex burgundy to atro-vinaceous, antherodes 0.6 – 1.4 × 0.7 – 1.8 mm, X-shaped, yellow, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes present, non-polliniferous or producing very few grains, not apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes conspicuous, obovate, shorter than the lower, lower lobes spathulate to obovate; lateral filaments 5.2 – 9.1 mm long, gently sigmoid to sigmoid, geniculate distal to the middle, apex recurved, vinaceous, base white to tan-coloured, apex sometimes tan-coloured to burgundy, anthers 1.1 – 1.5 × 0.6 – 0.9 mm, held near the medial anther, elliptic to ovate, orange-yellow to orange, orange-yellow to orange, pollen orange-yellow to orange, drying orange to buff-orange; medial filament 3.1 – 6.8 mm long, arcuate-recurved to gently sigmoid, apex strongly recurved, vinaceous, base white to tan-coloured, apex burgundy to atro-vinaceous, anther 1.4 – 2.1 × 1.1 – 2 mm, held near the lateral anthers, widely oblong to widely elliptic, slightly curved, orange-yellow to orange, connective shield-shaped, orange-yellow to orange, with an atro-vinaceous to maroon spot at centre, anther sacs not appressed to each other, pollen orange-yellow to orange, drying orange to buff-orange; ovary 1.5 – 2.3 × 0.8 – 1.6 mm, 3 - carpellate, 5 - ovulate, ellipsoid to widely ellipsoid, green, smooth, puberulous with glandular microhairs, style 5.9 – 10.3 mm long, equalling or slightly exceeding the stamens, sigmoid, base cylindric, apex strongly recurved, vinaceous, base white to tan-coloured, apex tan-coloured, deciduous in fruit, stigma trilobate, white to tan-coloured. Capsules 3 – 5 per spathe, 6.7 – 10.3 × 4.1 – 6.9 mm, obovoid, sessile, fruit wall thin, apex truncate, constricted between the seeds, tan-coloured when mature, shiny, smooth, 3 - locular, unequally 2 - valved, dorsal locule 1 - seeded, indehiscent, ventral locules 2 - seeded, dehiscent, valves splitting to the base. Seeds dimorphic, brown to dark brown; dorsal locule seed 4.1 – 5.3 × 2.4 – 3.8 mm, adnate to the fruit wall, widely ellipsoid, dorsiventrally compressed, ventrally flattened, slightly cleft towards the embryotega, testa foveolate, non-farinose, embryotega semilateral, inconspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum linear, ca ½ the length of the seed, on a weak ridge; ventral locule seeds 3.3 – 5.1 × 2 – 3.4 mm, free from the fruit wall, ellipsoid to reniform, truncate at one end, ventrally flattened, not cleft towards the embryotega, testa rugose-foveolate, sparsely farinose, farinae white, embryotega semilateral, conspicuous, with a prominent apicule, curved, ca ½ the length of the seed, on a strong ridge.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD3FF92414205989038F8B8.taxon	distribution	Distribution From Mexico to Argentina. In Brazil, it is recorded for all regions and States, except for Acre, Amazonas, and Roraima (Fig. 15).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD3FF92414205989038F8B8.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology Commonly found growing in shady, disturbed areas such as roadsides, gardens and forest margins, and agricultural fields. It is less commonly found growing in drier regions and rocky outcrops. Phenology Throughout the year, especially during the rainy season.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD3FF92414205989038F8B8.taxon	vernacular_names	Vernacular names Trapoeraba gigante (Brazil), trapoeraba-açu (Brazil), batata-ovo (Brazil), manobi-açu (Brazil), andacáaçu (Brazil), Anda ka’a açu (Brazil – Guarani).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD3FF92414205989038F8B8.taxon	discussion	Uses Used in traditional medicine and occasionally as food in Brazil. The mucilage secreted by damaged stems is used pure or diluted in water to remove warts or the dermatological bleaching of dark spots and markings. Cooked stems are used to treat dysentery and are occasionally eaten as greens. The infusion prepared using this plant is used in the traditional treatment of ophthalmias (Corrêa 1975; Pellegrini, pers. obs.).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD3FF92414205989038F8B8.taxon	conservation	Conservation Commelina robusta presents a vast extent of occurrence (EOO = 20 747 654 km 2), also occupying a large area (AOO = ca 8540 km 2), and the species does not meet the thresholds for criterium B. The observed populations are large and stable, with several mature individuals and no evidence of current threats. Thus, following the IUCN (2012) criteria and the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) recommendations, C. robusta should be considered as Least Concern (LC, criterium B).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD3FF92414205989038F8B8.taxon	discussion	Nomenclatural remarks As aforementioned, the type of C. obliqua clearly matches C. rufipes var. glabrata, as circumscribed by Faden & Hunt (1981). Faden (in Faden & Hunt 1981) informally proposes the synonymisation of C. robusta under C. obliqua based on his examination of the type specimen of the latter. Despite the unquestionable contributions to the taxonomy and nomenclature presented in Faden & Hunt (1981), the authors fail to realise the conspecificity of C. obliqua and C. rufipes var. glabrata when proposing this new synonym, thus creating further confusion on the identity and application of C. obliqua and C. robusta. However, as aforementioned, the type specimen of C. obliqua disagrees with the current concept of the name, matching that of C. rufipes var. glabrata instead. Alternatively, the type specimen of C. robusta is well-preserved and contains detailed sketches done by Kunth. The type specimen, together with Kunth’s drawings and the species’ original publication, leaves no doubt of this name’s identity and application. Remarks Commelina robusta is morphologically similar to C. vestita due to their gross morphology, involute and entire medial petal, ovary and capsules smooth, seeds white-farinose, and dorsal seed with testa rugose-foveolate (Table 2). However, C. robusta can be differentiated from C. vestita by its robust stature (vs delicate in C. vestita), stems prostrate to ascending to scrambling, sometimes erect, branched throughout or branched in the upper third, scabrid to glabrous (vs ascending to erect, unbranched to branched at base, velutine to hispid), leaf-sheath margin with red to dark red to atro-vinaceous hairs (vs hairs light brown to brown), blades abaxially light green (vs vinaceous to dark purple), spathe glabrous on both sides, margin setose near the base (vs externally velutine to hispid, internally sparsely velutine, margin glabrous), dorsal sepal triangular to widely triangular (vs elliptic to ovate), paired petals limb very widely ovate-reniform to depressed ovate-reniform (vs ovate-reniform to widely ovate-reniform), medial petal spathulate to obovate, light blue to pale lilac, completely involute (vs petal oblong to oblanceolate, white, apex involute), antherodes not apiculate between the upper lobes (vs apiculate between the upper lobes), anthers orange-yellow to orange (vs pale orange-yellow to pale apricot), and lateral anthers held near the medial anther (vs held near the stigma) (Table 2). A great deal of morphological variation was recognised in the previous circumscription of C. robusta (until now treated as C. obliqua). It comprised plants from small to large stature (sometimes way over 1.5 m tall), stems from creeping with ascending apex to erect to scandent, and thin and fibrous to robust and somewhat succulent stems. The leaves ranged from 4 – 20 cm long, from glabrous to scabrid to pilose, and from light green to vinaceous abaxially. Flower size and colour also varied immensely and were regarded as environmental (Pellegrini & Forzza 2017). On the other hand, Pellegrini & Forzza (2017) also stated that it represented a Pantropical species complex, but that was the best way to deal with this taxon at the time. The synonymy proposed by Hassemer (2020, and references therein) has been carefully reviewed by us and revealed the need to reestablish several names. Alternatively, C. bambusifolioides, C. monticola, and C. vilavelhensis are confirmed to be conspecific with C. robusta. This decision is supported by the vegetative and reproductive morphology observed in the type specimens and retrieved from their original publications and illustrations. We have been able to recognise and segregate C. bambusifolia, C. scabrata, C. sugariae sp. nov., and C. vestita, aside from C. huntii and C. robusta. The differentiation between these taxa has previously not been possible due to the lack of fieldwork and proper study of the type specimens and protologues. However, new data made available to MOOP since 2017 has proven key to recognising these species based on macro-morphology. Characters such as leaf-blade architecture, pubescence, degree of connation of the spathe base, development of the upper cincinnus, lower cincinnus pubescence, lower sepals connation, paired petal limb base, the colouration of the medial connective, and fruit and seed morphology have proven key to differentiating these taxa. Despite our current efforts and updates, which have allowed the recognition of a much more welldelimited taxon, C. robusta remains polymorphic, and further studies are still necessary to finesse its circumscription (see Remarks on C. mathewsii (C. B. Clarke) Faden & D. R. Hunt).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD5FF9941BA065395E2FAFE.taxon	description	Figs 8, 16; Table 3	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD5FF9941BA065395E2FAFE.taxon	etymology	Etymology The epithet derives from the Latin ʻ rūfus ʼ (which derives from the Proto-Italic ʻ * rouðos ʼ, meaning ʻredʼ) + ʻ pēs ʼ (meaning ʻfoot, stem, stalkʼ), in reference to this species’ stems and leaves covered by red to rusty hairs.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD5FF9941BA065395E2FAFE.taxon	materials_examined	Type material BRAZIL – São Paulo • s. loc.; 1817; st.; C. F. P. Martius s. n.; lectotype: M [M 0210921]!, designated by Pellegrini & Forzza (2017); isolectotype: M [M 0210920]! • Bertioga, estrada Bertioga / São Sebastião, bairro São Rafael; 25 Oct. 2007; fl.; R. C. Forzza et al. 4823; epitype: RB [RB 00515585]!, designated by Pellegrini & Forzza (2017). Selected material examined North America MEXICO – Tabasco • Tapijuluya; 5 Jan. 1890; fl.; J. N. Rovirosa 685; K, US. Central America BELIZE – Toledo • on hill slope near Pate’s Camp, Edwards Road beyond Columbia; 14 Feb. 1951; fl.; P. H. Gentle 7204; P. COSTA RICA – Puntarenas • Cantón de Golfito, peninsula across bay, west from the town of Golfito (generally west of Playa Cacao); 29 Jan. 1992; fl.; H. H. Schmidt 600; CR, MO, US 2 ex. EL SALVADOR – La Libertad • Comasagua; Dec. 1922; fl.; S. Calderón 1411; US. GUATEMALA – Alta Verapaz • Cubilquitz; Nov. 1901; fl.; H. von Türckheim 8328; K, MO, US. HONDURAS – Distrito Central • Francisco Morazán, Montana La Tigra 35 km NE de Teguciagalpa, bosque húmedo montano bajo; 16 Oct. 1982; fr.; D. Montoya 85; MO. NICARAGUA – Atlántico Norte • along the new road between Rosita and Puerto Cabezas, ca 15.7 km SW of Río Kukalaya; 30 Apr. 1978; fr.; W. D. Stevens et al. 8474; MO, US. PANAMA – Darien • trail from Cana to Colombian border along Río Setigandí; 19 Apr. 1980; fr.; A. H. Gentry et al. 28572; MO, US. South America BOLIVIA – Santa Cruz • Velasco Province, Mauritiella palm swamp at Cuatro Vientos; 1 Oct. 1995; fr.; R. Ritter & P. Foster 2480; MO, NHA, US, USZ. BRAZIL – Rio de Janeiro • Silva Jardim, Reserva Biológica de Poço das Antas, Juturnaíba, trilha Rodolfo Norte, caminho para a Pelonha; 18 Aug. 1995; fl., fr.; J. M. A. Braga et al. 2735; RB. COLOMBIA – Vaupés • Río Kananari (affluent of Río Apaporis), Cerro Isibukuri; 3 Aug. 1951; fl.; R. E. Schultes & I. Cabrera 13258; COL, K, U. FRENCH GUIANA – Camopi • Arrondissement de Caiena, Cachoeira Três Saltos; 1 Sep. 1960; fl., fr.; H. S. Irwin et al. 47944; IAN, MG, MO, NY, RB, US. PERU – Loreto • Maynas, Dtto. Iquitos. Rio Nanay, Carretera de Picuruayco, below Bellavista; 28 Jun. 1974; fl., fr.; S. McDaniel & M. Rimachi Y. 18845; RB. SURINAME – Sipaliwini • Vicinity of airstrip along Ulemari River, 71 km up Ulemari River from its confluence with Litani River; 29 Apr. 1998; fl., fr.; B. E. Hammel et al. 21713; BBS, LPB, MO, P, U, US. VENEZUELA – Barinas • Distr. Pedraza, trail from Mesa de Canagua to Cerro El Filón, W of the Río Curbatí; 24 Nov. 1990; fl., fr.; L. J. Dorr et al. 7812; NY, PORT, US.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD5FF9941BA065395E2FAFE.taxon	description	Description Herbs 10 – 60 cm tall, prostrate to ascending, perennial, delicate to medium-sized, terrestrial. Roots fibrous, thin. Rhizome short. Stems monomorphic, base prostrate, apex prostrate to ascending, unbranched to branched at base; internodes 0.8 – 7.6 cm long, distally shorter, green, glabrous, with a line of acicular hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs hyaline or rusty to rusty-brown. Leaves distichously-alternate, evenly distributed along the stem, pseudopetiolate; sheaths 0.4 – 1.9 cm long, light green, hirsute, hairs acicular, rusty to rusty-brown, rarely hyaline, margin upright, hirsute, with a denser line of hirsute hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs acicular, rusty to rusty-brown; pseudopetiole inconspicuous up to 2.4 mm long; blades (1.1 –) 3.5 – 14.1 × (0.4 –) 1.2 – 5.3 cm, lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, straight, membranous, adaxially green to bluish-green, abaxially light green, adaxially hispid, abaxially hispid, hairs hyaline, hirsute along the midvein, hairs rusty to rusty-brown, base symmetric, cuneate to obtuse, margin slightly revolute, scabrid with prickle-hairs, apex acute; midvein conspicuous, adaxially impressed to channelled, abaxially prominently obtuse, secondary veins 2 – 3 pairs, adaxially conspicuous, abaxially conspicuous, becoming more conspicuous on both sides when dry. Synflorescence composed of a solitary main florescence or main florescence plus 1 – 2 co-florescences, restricted to the apex of the stems. Inflorescences terminal or apparently so, peduncle 2.1 – 6.4 mm long, shorter than ½ length of the spathe, straight, villous with acicular hairs, hairs hyaline; spathe 1.4 – 4.5 × 1.5 – 4.8 cm, ovate to widely ovate, patent to the peduncle, light green, internally conspicuously mucilaginous, base only basally connate, splitting open in fruit, truncate to subcordate, externally villous with acicular hairs, hairs hyaline, sometimes with sparse hirsute acicular hairs, hairs rusty to rusty-brown, margin flat, apex acute, straight, veins 4 – 5 pairs, conspicuous, becoming more conspicuous when dry; upper cincinnus developed, 1 – 2 - flowered, flowers mainly staminate, rarely bisexual, peduncle 1.4 – 3.6 cm long, exserted, gently decurved at pre-anthesis, anthesis, post-anthesis and fruit, sparsely to densely puberulous with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; lower cincinnus 3 – 6 - flowered, flowers mainly bisexual, sometimes staminate, peduncle 0.8 – 1.9 cm long, thickened in fruit, glabrous to sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs. Flowers chasmogamous, strongly zygomorphic, enantiostylous (style gently dislocated to the opposite side to the medial stamen); floral buds 0.9 – 3.6 × 0.5 – 2.1 mm, obovoid, light green to white, glabrous; pedicel 1 – 2.3 mm long, deflexed in bud and at anthesis, reflexed and elongating in fruit, white to light green, puberulous with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; sepals hyaline, early deciduous in fruit, dorsal sepal 2.2 – 3.4 × 1 – 1.7 mm, elliptic, concave, glabrous, apex acute, lower sepals 3.5 – 4.8 × 2.4 – 3.3 mm, shortly-clawed, connate up to mid-length, oblique-obovate, concave, glabrous, apex obtuse; paired petals 0.6 – 0.9 × 0.5 – 0.8 cm, clawed, claw 2.4 – 3.7 mm long, white, limb 3.9 – 5.4 × 5.5 – 7.5 mm, rhombic to rotund, white, base asymmetric, round to subtruncate, apex round to slightly emarginate to emarginate, medial petal 3 – 4.5 × 0.7 – 1.5 mm, sessile, elliptic to narrowly oblanceolate, entire, flat, concolourous with the paired petals, opaque, glabrous on both sides, apex obtuse; staminodes 2 – 3, generally medial staminode completely absent or greatly reduced and lacking the antherode, filaments 3.1 – 4.6 mm long, arcuate-decurved, apex recurved to abruptly recurved, white, base sometimes pale yellow, antherodes 0.4 – 1 × 0.9 – 1.2 mm, cordate, pale yellow, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes absent, apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes absent, lower lobes obovoid; lateral filaments 3.1 – 5.3 mm long, very gently sigmoid to gently sigmoid, apex gently recurved, apex gently recurved, white, base sometimes pale yellow, anthers 1 – 1.6 × 0.4 – 0.7 mm, held near the medial stamen, subcordate, yellow, connective yellow, pollen yellow, drying ochre; medial filament 2.5 – 4.6 mm long, arcuate-recurved, white, base sometimes pale yellow, anther 1.3 – 2 × 0.5 – 0.8 mm, held with the lateral anthers, widely oblong to widely elliptic, slightly curved, yellow, connective oblong, yellow, anther sacs not appressed to each other, pollen yellow, drying ochre; ovary 1.3 – 1.5 × 0.9 – 1.3 mm, 3 - carpellate, 5 - ovulate, widely ellipsoid to subglobose, white to pale yellow, smooth, puberulous with glandular microhairs, style 3.4 – 5.7 mm long, exceeding the stamens, very gently sigmoid to arcuate-decurved, apex strongly decurved, white, base sometimes pale yellow, deciduous in fruit, stigma truncate, white. Capsules 2 – 4 per spathe, 4.3 – 6.3 × 3.7 – 6.1 mm, subglobose to globose, short-stipitate, stipe 0.6 – 1.2 mm long, fruit wall thin, crustaceous, apex round, generally apiculate due to the persistent style base, not constricted between the seeds, pearly-white to silvery when mature, shiny, smooth, 3 - locular, indehiscent, dorsal locule 1 - seeded, ventral locules 2 - seeded. Seeds monomorphic, 2.1 – 3.9 × 1.6 – 3.1 mm, the dorsal seed slightly larger than the ventral ones, all seeds adnate to the fruit wall and septa forming a dispersal unit, ellipsoid to triangular-ellipsoid, dorsally slightly flattened, ventrally pyramidal, not cleft towards the embryotega, dark grey to black, testa smooth, non-farinose, embryotega semilateral, inconspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum linear, longer than ½ the length of the seed.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD5FF9941BA065395E2FAFE.taxon	distribution	Distribution Commelina rufipes is widespread, extending from southern Mexico (States of Tabasco and Chiapas) to Southern Brazil (State of Paraná) (Fig. 8). Commelina rufipes presents a peculiar disjunct distribution, altogether skipping seasonally dry forests and savanna-like formations in South America and being absent from the West Indies. This pattern dramatically differs from the morphologically similar but ecologically much more tolerant C. obliqua. It is also worth mentioning that the number of records for C. rufipes is much smaller when compared with C. obliqua. Commelina rufipes is primarily absent from Colombia and Venezuela, and entirely absent from Ecuador, even in well-preserved rainforests (Fig. 8). However, the absence of C. rufipes from Ecuador and Suriname, as well as from most of Colombia and Venezuela, likely represents a collection gap and / or results from taxonomic confusion with C. obliqua. The distribution pattern of C. rufipes highlights this species’ close association with the major North, Central and South American rainforest biomes (i. e., the Central-American Rainforest, the Chocó-Darién Rainforest from Panama, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Atlantic Rainforest).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD5FF9941BA065395E2FAFE.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology It grows in the understory of well-preserved rainforests and riparian forests, especially along perennial watercourses. Phenology It was found in bloom and fruits throughout the year but peaking during the rainy season. Nonetheless, due to the small size of its white flowers compared to its very showy and conspicuous pearly-white to silvery fruits, it has been poorly collected in bloom.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD5FF9941BA065395E2FAFE.taxon	vernacular_names	Vernacular names Trapoeraba ruiva (Brazil), manobi-pitan (Brazil), andacá-ruivo (Brazil), andacá-pitan (Brazil), Anda ka’a pytã (Brazil – Guarani), zapupa (El Salvador).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD5FF9941BA065395E2FAFE.taxon	conservation	Conservation Commelina rufipes presents wide EOO (14 746 312 km 2) and AOO (ca 3016 km 2) and, thus, does not meet the thresholds for criterium B. No information is currently available on its populational trends or its current threats. Thus, following the IUCN (2012) criteria and the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) recommendations, we suggest C. rufipes should be considered as Least Concern (LC).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFD5FF9941BA065395E2FAFE.taxon	discussion	Remarks Based on morphological and geographic data, we recognise C. rufipes as distinct from C. obliqua (previously C. rufipes var. glabrata) and C. pseudomonosperma, in opposition to the very broad circumscription proposed by Hassemer (2020). There is no morphological overlap in any vegetative and reproductive characters of these three closely related species (Table 3). Furthermore, they show noticeable differences in their distribution patterns (Figs 8, 11). Commelina rufipes can be very easily recognised, even when lacking flowers and fruits, due to its prostrate stems, characteristically hirsute leaf-sheaths with rusty to rusty-brown hairs, leaf-blades lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, opaque and membranous, hispid on both sides with hyaline hairs and sparsely hirsute along the midvein and near the base with rusty to rusty-brown hairs, base symmetric and cuneate to obtuse, and apex acute (Table 3). Furthermore, its spathe is ovate to widely ovate and hispid with hyaline hairs (sometimes with some rusty hairs). Its white flowers present a flat medial petal that ranges from very narrowly elliptic to narrowly elliptic. This combination of characters, plus the fruit and seed characters shared with C. pseudomonosperma and C. obliqua (previously C. rufipes var. glabrata), make this species unique in the genus and very readily diagnosed (Table 3).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFDEFFE74140049F96A6FEDD.taxon	description	Figs 4, 17 – 18; Table 2	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFDEFFE74140049F96A6FEDD.taxon	etymology	Etymology From the Latin ʻ scabrā ʼ (meaning ʻrough, scratchy, itchyʼ) + the suffix ʻ - āta ʼ (indicating the possession of a particular feature), in reference to its leaves covered by scabrid hairs.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFDEFFE74140049F96A6FEDD.taxon	materials_examined	Type material BRAZIL – Espírito Santo • crescit in interioribus prov. Bahiensis; s. dat.; fl.; C. F. P. von Martius s. n.; lectotype: M [M 0274913]!, designated by Hassemer et al. (2016); isolectotype: M [M 0274914]!. Selected material examined BRAZIL – Espírito Santo • Estação Biológica de Santa Lúcia, trilha para o túmulo de Augusto Ruschi, ao lado da ponte José Molina; 26 Jun. 2012; fl., fr.; M. O. O. Pellegrini et al. 248; RB, VIES. – Rio de Janeiro • Santa Maria Madalena Parque Estadual do Desengano. Horto Santos Lima, cede do parque, próximo a caixa d’água, no bambusal; 6 Feb. 2016; fl., fr.; M. O. O. Pellegrini et al. 486; K, P, RB, SPF, US. – São Paulo • Itanhaém, Ilha Queimada Grande; 5 Mar. 2015; fl.; A. M. Magalhães & L. G. S. Amorim 95; RB, SPF.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFDEFFE74140049F96A6FEDD.taxon	description	Description Herbs 20 – 50 cm tall, ascending, perennial, robust, rupicolous or terrestrial. Roots fibrous, thin. Rhizome short. Stems monomorphic, ascending, unbranched or branched only at base; internodes 0.6 – 8.4 cm long, distally shorter, green to dark green, scabrid with prickle-hairs to hispid with a mixture of prickle- and acicular hairs, hairs hyaline, longer acicular ones sometimes rusty, with a line of acicular hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs dark brown to red to dark red. Leaves distichously-alternate, congested in the upper part of the stem, pseudopetiolate; sheaths 0.9 – 2.8 cm long, light green, sometimes suffused with magenta to red opposite to the blade, scabrid with prickle-hairs to hispid with a mixture of prickle- and acicular hairs, hairs hyaline, with a line of hispid hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs acicular, dark red to dark red to atro-vinaceous, margin upright, hispid, hairs acicular, dark red to dark red to atro-vinaceous; pseudopetiole 0.4 – 3.9 cm long; blades (2.2 –) 4.3 – 13.7 × 0.9 – 3.6 cm, narrowly oblong to narrowly elliptic, obliquely asymmetric, thinly chartaceous to chartaceous, adaxially green to dark green, abaxially light green, sometimes with vinaceous to dark purple variegation, adaxially glabrous to hispid, abaxially hispid, hirsute along the midvein, hairs acicular, rusty or hyaline, base asymmetric, cuneate, margin flat, scabrid, apex acuminate to long-acuminate; midvein conspicuous, adaxially impressed, abaxially prominently obtuse, secondary veins 3 – 4 pairs, adaxially conspicuous, abaxially inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous on both sides when dry. Synflorescence composed of a solitary main florescence or main florescence plus 1 – 2 co-florescences, restricted to the apex of the stems. Inflorescences terminal or apparently so, peduncle 4.3 – 9.1 mm long, shorter than ½ length of the spathe, straight, glabrous to sparsely scabrid with prickle-hairs, hairs hyaline; spathe 1.3 – 3.6 × 1.9 – 4.3 cm, widely depressed ovate-triangular to depressed ovate-triangular, patent to the peduncle, concolourous with the leaves, internally conspicuously mucilaginous, base connate up to the apex or almost so, truncate, externally hispid to hirsute, hairs hyaline or rusty, margin flat, apex obtuse to acute, straight, veins 3 – 4 pairs, inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous when dry; upper cincinnus vestigial, flowerless, peduncle 1.9 – 3.3 cm long, included, gently recurved at pre-anthesis, anthesis, post-anthesis and fruit, sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; lower cincinnus 1 – 3 - flowered, flowers mainly bisexual, rarely staminate, peduncle 3.3 – 5.4 cm long, thickened in fruit, glabrous to sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs towards the apex. Flowers chasmogamous, strongly zygomorphic, enantiostylous (style gently dislocated to the opposite side to the medial stamen); floral buds 2.2 – 6.5 × 3.7 – 6.1 mm, obovoid, light green or light blue, glabrous; pedicel 0.9 – 1.4 mm long, deflexed in bud and at anthesis, reflexed and elongating in fruit, light green, glabrous; sepals hyaline, persistent and accrescent in fruit, dorsal sepal 3.2 – 4.8 × 1.9 – 2.6 mm, elliptic to narrowly triangular, concave, glabrous, apex acute, lower sepals 4.2 – 6.3 × 4.7 – 5.9 mm, shortly-clawed, connate up to the upper third, oblique-obovate to widely oblique-obovate, concave, glabrous, apex round; paired petals 9.8 – 15.3 × 8.8 – 13.8 mm, clawed, claw 3.9 – 6.1 mm long, white to light blue, limb 5.9 – 9.2 × 8.8 – 13.8 mm, widely transversally rhombic to widely depressed obovate, sky blue, base asymmetric, cuneate, apex obtuse to round, medial petal 4.3 – 6.1 × 1.4 – 3.2 mm, sessile, lanceolate to ovate, entire, apex involute, discolourous with the paired petals, white, hyaline, glabrous on both sides, apex acute to acuminate; staminodes 3, medial staminode equal to the laterals, filaments 3.4 – 5.1 mm long, straight to arcuate-recurved, white, apex yellowish-orange to cream-orange, antherodes 1.6 – 1.8 × 1.4 – 1.6 mm, X-shaped, yellow, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes present, non-polliniferous or producing very few grains, not apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes conspicuous, very widely obtriangular to subquadrangular, larger than the lower, lower lobes widely oblong to subquadrangular; lateral filaments 6.7 – 10.3 mm long, straight to very gently sigmoid, base gently recurved, white, base light green, apex yellowish-orange to cream-orange, anthers 1.6 – 1.9 × 1.3 – 1.5 mm, held with the medial anther, elliptic to ovate, orange-yellow to orange, pollen yellowish-orange to cream-orange, drying orange-yellow to apricot; medial filament 5.2 – 9.4 mm long, straight to arcuate-decurved, apex suddenly recurved, white, apex yellowish-orange to cream-orange, anther 1.9 – 2.2 × 1.4 – 1.7 mm, held with the lateral anthers, widely oblong to widely elliptic, slightly curved, orange-yellow to orange, connective oblong, orange, anther sacs not appressed to each other, pollen yellowish-orange to cream-orange, drying orange-yellow to apricot; ovary 1.2 – 1.7 × 0.9 – 1.5 mm, 3 - carpellate, 5 - ovulate, very widely fusiform to subglobose, green, sparsely verrucose, puberulous with glandular microhairs, style 1 – 1.3 cm long, equalling or exceeding the stamens, very gently sigmoid, apex recurved, base tapering into the ovary, apex strongly involute, white, base light green, apex yellowish-orange to cream-orange, deciduous in fruit, stigma trilobate, tan-coloured. Capsules 1 – 2 per spathe, 1.3 – 1.6 × 1 – 1.3 cm, prismatic, sessile, fruit wall thin, apex rostrate, slightly constricted between the seeds, tan-coloured to greenish-brown, speckled with dark brown, shiny when immature, becoming off-white with tan-coloured speckles when parasitised by weevil larvae or when mature, opaque, verrucose, 3 - locular, unequally 2 - valved, dorsal locule 1 - seeded, indehiscent, ventral locules 1 - seeded, dehiscent, valves splitting only up to mid-length. Seeds dimorphic, brown to dark brown; dorsal locule seed 0.9 – 1.4 × 0.4 – 0.7 cm, adnate to the fruit wall, ellipsoid, dorsiventrally compressed, ventrally flattened, slightly cleft towards the embryotega, testa shallowly foveolate, non-farinose, embryotega semidorsal, conspicuous, without a prominent apicule, hilum linear, ca the same length as the seed; ventral locule seeds 1 – 1.4 × 0.4 – 0.6 cm, free from the fruit wall, ellipsoid to slightly falcate, ventrally flattened, not cleft towards the embryotega, testa sparsely echinate, sparsely farinose, farinae white, embryotega semilateral, conspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum C-shaped, ca the same length as the seed.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFDEFFE74140049F96A6FEDD.taxon	distribution	Distribution Commelina scabrata is endemic to Brazil, States of Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo (Fig. 4).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFDEFFE74140049F96A6FEDD.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology It grows in the understory of conserved and disturbed Atlantic Forest fragments, between 600 – 1000 m a. s. l. It is found growing along or near watercourses or in permanently moist forest patches. Phenology It was found in bloom and fruits from January to June. The floral morphology, more specifically, the prematurely involute style causing the stigma to be held with the anthers combined with the lack of observed floral visitors in the wild and cultivation, indicate this self-compatible species mainly relies on selfing (Pellegrini, pers. obs.). Commelina scabrata has a unique association with a weevil (Curculionoidea, Coleoptera) (Fig. 18). Each capsule is predated by a single egg laid inside the fruit during its initial developmental stages. The larva bores its way out of the fruit, eating the developing seeds and septae, leaving intact the outer part of the fruit (Fig. 18 C). The remaining capsule wall is used by the larva as a shelter (Fig. 18 A – C), where they grow to the size of the capsule (Fig. 18 G – H). The fruit might also serve as a shell for the weevil’s pupa stage, but further observations are still required (Pellegrini, pers. obs.). After the weevil has left the predated fruit, the capsule acquires an off-white and opaque colouration, which is retained in herbarium specimens (Fig. 18 D), in opposition to its immature colouration (tan-coloured to greenish-brown, speckled with dark brown, and shiny; Figs 17 J, 18 E – F). Out of the analysed herbarium specimens and plants studied in the field and kept in cultivation, between 80 – 90 % of the capsules were predated, significantly affecting the species’ seed set. Unfortunately, we have been unable to observe and / or collect pupa and adult stages of this weevil, preventing a more precise identification.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFDEFFE74140049F96A6FEDD.taxon	vernacular_names	Vernacular name Trapoeraba lixa (Brazil).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFDEFFE74140049F96A6FEDD.taxon	conservation	Conservation Despite its wide EOO (222 614 km 2), C. scabrata has a considerably reduced AOO (ca 412 km 2) due to the small number of known records and extant populations. All observed populations were small, with fewer than 20 mature individuals, all of them growing in disturbed environments (Pellegrini, pers. obs.). Despite flowering and fruiting being common and fairly constant, over 90 % of observed fruits were predated by weevil larvae (Fig. 18). The predated fruits have all their seeds entirely eaten by the larvae, effectively preventing successful sexual reproduction. The frequency of predation is so high that all analysed herbarium specimens presented predated fruits and no seeds. Mature seeds were only accidentally but successfully observed in cultivation (Fig. 17 K – L). Nonetheless, the observed populations seem to remain stable, primarily due to clonal reproduction (Pellegrini, pers. obs.). Thus, following the IUCN (2012) criteria and the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) recommendations, we suggest C. scabrata be considered Endangered [EN, B 2 b (ii, iii) c (iv) + C 2 a (i)].	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFDEFFE74140049F96A6FEDD.taxon	discussion	Remarks Similar to Commelina bambusifolia, due to their hirsute leaf-sheaths, blades narrowly oblong to narrowly elliptic, obliquely asymmetric, abaxially hirsute along the midvein, margin smooth, apex acuminate to long-acuminate, upper cincinnus vestigial and included, lower cincinnus glabrous, paired petals limb with base cuneate, medial anther lacking a vinaceous to dark purple spot on the connective, fruits opaque off-white when mature, all locules 1 - seeded (Table 2). However, it can be differentiated by its leaf-blades hispid on both sides, hairs rusty or hyaline, base cuneate, paired petals limb sky blue, fruits prismatic, sparsely verrucose, apex aristate, consistently parasitised by weevil larvae, unequally 2 - valved, valves splitting only up to mid-length, seeds dimorphic, dorsal locule seed adnate to the fruit wall, and ventral locule seeds free from the fruit wall (Table 2). It is superficially similar to C. obliqua and C. rufipes due to its rusty leaves and white fruits. However, it can be readily differentiated by its aborted and included upper cincinnus (vs developed and exserted in C. obliqua and C. rufipes), paired petals blue with a cuneate limb (vs white, cordate), involute medial petal (vs straight), antherodes with upper lobes larger than the lower ones (vs smaller), anthers orange-yellow to orange (vs yellow), fruits dehiscent, prismatic, opaque and verrucose (vs indehiscent, globose to subglobose, shiny and smooth), and seeds dimorphic and ornate (vs monomorphic and smooth to inconspicuously foveolate). The capsules of C. scabrata are very peculiar and present a unique combination of characters in the genus (i. e., prismatic shape, fruit wall thin, apex rostrate, slightly constricted between the seeds, verrucose ornamentation, dark brown maculated colouration when immature, changing to off-white when parasitised by weevil larvae or when mature, indehiscent dorsal valve and ventral valves splitting only up to mid-length). The ventral seeds of C. scabrata are also unique amongst the Neotropical species of Commelina due to their D-shaped outline and sparsely echinate testa. The dorsal seeds also stand out due to having a different outline, colouration, testa ornamentation and deposition, embryotega position and development, and hilum shape. Finally, the aforementioned paired petals limb with cuneate limb base are, so far, known only for C. bambusifolia and C. scabrata amongst Neotropical Commelina. With such a combination of peculiar and unique morphological characters, it seems surprising that C. scabrata has remained an obscure and misunderstood species for so long.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA0FFE2410400B09138FBD6.taxon	description	urn: lsid: ipni. org: names: 77347327 - 1 Figs 15, 19; Table 2	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA0FFE2410400B09138FBD6.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis Similar to C. robusta and C. vestita due to their gross morphology, paired petals light blue to blue to sky blue or pale lilac to lilac, medial petal involute, entire, ovary and capsules smooth, seeds white-farinose, and testa rugose-foveolate. However, C. sugariae sp. nov. can be readily differentiated from both species due to its medial anther connective with an orange-brown spot at centre, its peculiar 2 - carpellate, oblong and dorsiventrally compressed ovary, and capsules equally 2 - valved, oblong to rectangular, dorsiventrally compressed, 4 - seeded, and seeds homomorphic.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA0FFE2410400B09138FBD6.taxon	etymology	Etymology The epithet honours Rebecca Rea Sugar, USA animator, director, screenwriter, producer, storyboard artist, voice actor, singer-songwriter, and creator of the Cartoon Network animated series ʻSteven Universeʼ. Sugar is the first non-binary person to create a series for Cartoon Network independently. Sugar identifies as bisexual, non-binary, and genderqueer, using she / they pronouns. Sugar’s queerness has served as their inspiration for stressing the importance of LGBTQIA + representation in art, especially in children’s entertainment, clearly visible in both ʻSteven Universeʼ and ʻAdventure Timeʼ. The latter series had Sugar up to 2013 as a writer, storyboard artist, singer-songwriter, and voice actor.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA0FFE2410400B09138FBD6.taxon	materials_examined	Type material BRAZIL – Mato Grosso • 9 km E of the base camp of the expedition, base camp, ca 270 km N of Xavantina; 18 Apr. 1968; fr.; J. A. Ratter 1073; holotype: K [K 001245927]!; isotypes: NY [NY 00872565]!, P [P 01742698]!, UB [no. 3785] n. v. Other material examined (Paratypes) BRAZIL – Goiás • Gouvelândia, Unidade de Conservação Ricardo Machado Borges, floresta estacional semidecídua; 453 m a. s. l.; 25 Feb. 2023; fl.; I. L. Morais 7965; JAR, K, RB • Gouvelândia; 455 m a. s. l.; 26 Feb. 2023; fl.; I. L. Morais 7989; JAR, RB • Gouvelândia; 455 m a. s. l.; 18 Mar. 2023; fl.; I. L. Morais 8063; JAR, K, NY, P, RB, SP, SPF, UB • Gouvelândia; 449 m a. s. l.; 19 Mar. 2023; fl.; I. L. Morais 8090 JAR, K, RB, SP, SPF, UB • Gouvelândia; 453 m a. s. l.; 2 Apr. 2023; fl.; I. L. Morais 8125; JAR • Gouvelândia; 453 m a. s. l.; 29 Apr. 2023; fl.; I. L. Morais 8179; JAR, K, UB • Serra dos Pirineus, Pico dos Pirineus, ca 20 km NW of Corumbá de Goiás, near road to Niquelândia; ca 1400 m a. s. l.; 28 Jan. 1968; fl., fr.; H. S. Irwin et al. 19370; K, NY, UB. – Mato Grosso • ca 14 km W of Km 90 of the Xavantina-Aragarças road, Vales dos Sonhos; 1 Apr. 1968; fl., fr.; D. Philcox & B. Freeman 4669; K, NY, P, UB. – Minas Gerais • Monte Belo, Fazenda Lagoa; 21 Mar. 1981; fl., fr.; M. C. Weyland Vieira 441; K, RB • Monte Belo, Fazenda Monte Alegre, Mata Mundo Novo; 21 Feb. 1982; fl.; M. C. Weyland Vieira 295; K.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA0FFE2410400B09138FBD6.taxon	description	Description Herbs 30 – 100 cm tall, ascending, perennial, robust, terrestrial or paludal. Roots fibrous, thin. Rhizome short. Stems monomorphic, herbaceous to slightly succulent, base prostrate, apex ascending to suberect, rooting at base, occasionally rooting at the nodes touching the substrate, sparsely branched throughout; internodes 1.2 – 7.5 cm long, distally shorter, green to dark green, sometimes sparsely to densely speckled with vinaceous spots, glaucous, puberulous with glandular microhairs, generally with a sparse hirsute line opposite to the leaves, hairs acicular, rusty to rusty-brown to red to dark red to atro-vinaceous. Leaves distichously-alternate, congested at the apex of the stem, pseudopetiolate; sheaths 1 – 2.5 cm long, glaucous, green to dark green, sometimes with red to vinaceous striations or reticulations up to almost entirely red to vinaceous, puberulous with glandular microhairs, hairs hyaline, with a hirsute line opposite to the blade, hairs acicular, rusty to rusty-brown to red to dark red to atro-vinaceous, rarely with a sparse line of hirsute hairs continuous to the blade’s midvein, hairs acicular, rusty to rusty-brown, margin upright, hirsute, hairs acicular, rusty to rusty-brown to red to dark red to atro-vinaceous; pseudopetiole 0.3 – 1.1 cm long; blades (2.3 – 2.8 –) 5.8 – 15.9 × (0.9 – 1.4 –) 2.5 – 5.5 cm, elliptic to widely elliptic to obovate, slightly falcate, membranous to thinly chartaceous, adaxially evenly dark green or with 2 broad and irregular silvery-green longitudinal stripes, sometimes the stripes so broad as to make the entire blade silvery-green with an irregular dark green stripe along the midvein, drying greyish-green to olive-green with an irregular lighter stripe along the midvein, sometimes dark brown, abaxially light green to greyish-green, drying olive-green to light brown, adaxially scabrid with prickle-hairs, sometimes sparsely hispidulous with a mixture of prickle- and acicular hairs, hairs hyaline, abaxially hispidulous to densely hispidulous with acicular hairs or a mixture of prickle- and acicular hairs, hispid along the midvein with acicular hairs, hairs hyaline, sometimes rusty to rusty-brown at blade base, base asymmetric, cuneate to obtuse, margin flat, scabrid with prickle-hairs, apex acute to acuminate; midvein conspicuous, adaxially impressed, abaxially prominently obtuse, secondary veins 3 – 4 pairs, adaxially conspicuous, abaxially inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous on both sides when dry. Synflorescence composed of a solitary main florescence or a main florescence and 1 – 8 co-florescences, restricted to the apex of the stems, sometimes also axillary along the distal part of the stems. Inflorescences terminal and apparently terminal, peduncle 0.3 – 1.3 cm long, straight, sparsely pilose to pilose with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; spathe 1.3 – 3.4 × 2.1 – 4.3 cm, widely ovate to very widely ovate, patent to the peduncle, concolourous with the leaves, internally conspicuously mucilaginous, base connate for 3.7 – 7.8 mm, truncate to round, rarely cordate, externally sparsely pilose to pilose with minute hook-hairs or with a mixture of hook- and glandular microhairs, hairs hyaline, sometimes with sparse to occasional hispid setose hairs, hairs hyaline, pilose with minute hook-hairs along the fused base, sometimes with a mixture of minute hook- and hispid acicular hairs, hairs hyaline, margin flat, glabrous to sparsely hispid near the base, hairs acicular, hyaline, sometimes rusty, internally with occasional acicular hairs, hairs hyaline, apex obtuse to acute, straight, veins 5 – 6 pairs, inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous when dry; upper cincinnus developed, 2 – 4 - flowered, flowers mainly staminate, sometimes bisexual, peduncle 0.7 – 2.4 cm long, exserted, J-shaped to decurved at pre-anthesis, gently decurved at anthesis, post-anthesis and fruit, pilose with hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; lower cincinnus 2 – 6 - flowered, flowers mainly bisexual, rarely staminate, peduncle 0.5 – 1.3 cm long, thickened in fruit, sparsely puberulous with a mixture of hook- and glandular microhairs, hairs hyaline; bracteoles early deciduous, ovate, hyaline, inconspicuous, margin entire, glabrous. Flowers chasmogamous, strongly zygomorphic, enantiostylous (style gently dislocated to the opposite side to the medial stamen); floral buds 2.2 – 4.9 × 1.4 – 2.9 mm, obovoid, slightly falcate, light blue to blue, glabrous; pedicel 1.5 – 4.3 mm long, deflexed in bud and at anthesis, reflexed and elongating in fruit, light green, apex puberulous with glandular microhairs, hairs early deciduous, hyaline; sepals white, hyaline, persistent and accrescent in fruit, dorsal sepal 3.5 – 4.7 × 1.3 – 2.7 mm, elliptic to ovate, concave, glabrous, apex acute, lower sepals 4.3 – 6.2 × 2.9 – 4.6 mm, shortly-clawed, connate for a third of their length, claw 0.5 – 1.2 mm long, limb 3.8 – 5 × 2.9 – 4.6 mm, widely oblique-ovate to depressed oblique-ovate, concave, glabrous, apex round; paired petals 3.4 – 7.1 × 4.8 – 5.6 mm, clawed, claw 2.1 – 3.5 mm long, mauve, becoming pale pink to pale lilac towards the limb, rarely white, limb 2.8 – 4.7 × 4.8 – 5.6 mm, ovate-reniform to widely ovate-reniform, light blue to blue to sky blue, base asymmetric, cordate to sagittate, apex round to slightly emarginate, medial petal 5.5 – 6.1 × 0.5 – 0.9 mm, sessile, oblanceolate, entire, completely involute, discolourous with the paired petals, white, hyaline, glabrous on both sides, apex obtuse; staminodes 3, medial staminode shorter than the laterals, filaments 2 – 3.4 mm long, straight to arcuate-decurved, vinaceous to mauve, base tan-coloured, antherodes 0.7 – 0.8 × 0.3 – 0.6 mm, X-shaped, yellow, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes present, non-polliniferous or producing very few grains, not apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes conspicuous, spathulate to obovate, gently curved outwards, much smaller than the lower, lower lobes spathulate to obovate; lateral filaments 4.8 – 6.8 mm long, strongly sigmoid, geniculate distal to the middle, apex recurved, vinaceous to mauve, base and apex tan-coloured, anthers 1.1 – 1.3 × 0.7 – 1 mm, held near the medial anther, oblong to elliptic, orange-yellow to apricot, drying pale yellow, connective orange-yellow to pale apricot, pollen orange-yellow to pale apricot, drying pale yellow; medial filament 2.2 – 4.6 mm long, straight to arcuate-decurved, apex gently recurved, white, apex tan-coloured, anther 1.5 – 1.9 × 0.9 – 1.6 mm, held near the lateral anthers, widely oblong to widely elliptic, slightly curved, pale orange-yellow to pale apricot, drying pale yellow, connective shield-shaped, orange-yellow to apricot, with a orange-brown spot at centre, anther sacs not appressed to each other, pollen orange-yellow to pale apricot, drying pale yellow; ovary 1 – 1.9 × 0.4 – 0.9 mm, 2 - carpellate, 4 - ovulate, oblong, dorsiventrally compressed, light green, smooth, puberulous with glandular microhairs, style 3.6 – 7.4 mm long, ca the same length as the stamens, gently sigmoid to sigmoid, apex strongly recurved, base not tapering into the ovary, white, apex sometimes tan-coloured, deciduous in fruit, stigma trilobate, white to tan-coloured. Capsules 3 – 5 per spathe, 5.2 – 7 × 2.2 – 3.5 mm, oblong to rectangular, dorsiventrally compressed, sessile, fruit wall thin, apex truncate to slightly emarginate, constricted between the seeds when immature and mature, light green when immature, tan-coloured when mature, shiny, glabrous, smooth, 2 - locular, equally 2 - valved, valves splitting to base, locules 2 - seeded. Seeds 2 per locule, 2 – 2.4 × 1.3 – 1.7 mm, monomorphic, all free from the capsule wall, ellipsoid, dorsiventrally compressed, ventrally flattened, slightly cleft towards the embryotega, testa rugose-foveolate, brown to dark brown, covered by a thin, white farinae, embryotega semilateral, inconspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum curved, longer than ½ the length of the seed, on a strong ridge.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA0FFE2410400B09138FBD6.taxon	distribution	Distribution Commelina sugariae sp. nov. is endemic to Brazil and is currently known by a handful of collections from the States of Goiás, Mato Grosso and Minas Gerais (Fig. 15).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA0FFE2410400B09138FBD6.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology It grows in the understory of gallery forests of central Brazil in the Cerrado biome, between 850 – 1400 m a. s. l. It is found growing on permanently moist soil along riverbanks. Phenology It was found in bloom and fruits from January to April, which coincides with the rainy season in central Brazil.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA0FFE2410400B09138FBD6.taxon	vernacular_names	Vernacular name Trapoeraba gigante (Brazil).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA0FFE2410400B09138FBD6.taxon	conservation	Conservation Despite its wide EOO (192 551 km 2), C. sugariae sp. nov. has a considerably reduced AOO (ca 32 km 2) due to the limited number of known records and extant populations. The species is most likely more frequent throughout its EOO, but due to its superficial similarity to the frequent and widely distributed C. robusta, most specimens are currently misidentified. Until herbaria from central Brazil have their collections reviewed and more recent collections become known, we follow the IUCN (2012) criteria and the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) recommendations and suggest C. sugariae should be considered Data Deficient (DD).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA0FFE2410400B09138FBD6.taxon	discussion	Remarks Commelina sugariae sp. nov. is peculiar among the Neotropical species of Commelina due to its 2 - carpellate ovary, which develops into a dorsiventrally compressed, rectangular, equally 2 - valved capsule. In the Neotropics, these characters are only shared with the distantly related and morphologically very distinct C. platyphylla Klotzsch ex Seub. It is morphologically most closely related to C. robusta and C. vestita due to their paired petals being light blue to blue to sky blue or pale lilac to lilac, medial petal involute, entire, ovary and capsules smooth, seeds white-farinose, and testa rugose-foveolate. However, C. sugariae can be easily differentiated from these species due to its peculiar 2 - carpellate, oblong and dorsiventrally compressed ovary, equally 2 - valved oblong to rectangular, dorsiventrally compressed, capsules 3 – 4 per spathe, 4 - seeded, and seeds monomorphic. Commelina sugariae sp. nov. can be further differentiated from C. vestita due to their obvious differences in stature (robust in C. sugariae vs delicate in C. vestita), stem posture, branching, appearance and pubescence (base prostrate, apex ascending to scrambling, branched throughout or branched in the upper third, glaucous, and puberulous with glandular microhairs vs ascending to erect throughout, unbranched or branched only at base, not glaucous, and velutine to hispid with acicular hairs), sheath pubescence (puberulous with glandular microhairs, rarely with a sparse line of rusty to rusty-brown hairs continuous to the blade’s midvein, margin with rusty to rusty-brown to red to dark red to atro-vinaceous hairs vs velutine to hispid, margin with light brown to brown hairs), leaf-blades’ colouration and pubescence (abaxially light green to greyish-green, adaxially scabrid, sometimes sparsely hispidulous, abaxially hispidulous to densely hispidulous, hispid along the midvein vs abaxially light green speckled with vinaceous to dark purple to completely vinaceous to dark purple, adaxially densely velutine to velutine, abaxially velutine to hispid), spathe shape (widely ovate to very widely ovate vs cordate to widely cordate, rarely depressed ovate), lower sepals limb shape (widely oblique-ovate to depressed oblique-ovate vs obovate to widely obovate), paired petals claw colouration (mauve to lilac, rarely white vs blue to sky blue), medial petal colouration and posture (light blue to pale lilac, completely involute vs white, apex slightly involute), filament colouration (vinaceous to mauve vs white to tan-coloured), anther colouration and placement (orange-yellow to apricot, lateral anthers held near the medial anther vs pale orange-yellow to pale apricot, lateral anthers held near the stigma, medial anther held near the antherodes), and the number of capsules per spathe (3 – 4 vs 6 – 9) (Table 2). Despite being morphologically very similar to the widespread and still morphologically variable C. robusta, C. sugariae sp. nov. can be unambiguously differentiated based on the following characters: stem pubescence (puberulous with glandular microhairs in C. sugariae vs glabrous to scabrid with prickle-hairs in C. robusta), leaf-blade variegation (adaxially evenly dark green or with 2 broad and irregular silvery-green longitudinal stripes vs never variegated), leaf-blade abaxial pubescence (hispidulous to densely hispidulous, hispid along the midvein, sometimes rusty at blade base vs scabrid to pilose, hairs hyaline), spathe shape, pubescence and apex (widely ovate to very widely ovate, externally sparsely pilose to pilose with minute hook-hairs or with a mixture of hook- and glandular microhairs, sometimes with sparse to occasional hispid setose hairs vs depressed ovate to widely depressed ovate, rarely very widely ovate, externally scabrid with prickle-hairs, apex obtuse to round), bracteole shape (ovate vs very widely ovate to depressed ovate), dorsal sepal shape (elliptic to ovate vs triangular to widely triangular), paired petals limb shape (ovate-reniform to widely ovate-reniform vs very widely ovate-reniform to depressed ovate-reniform), medial petal shape and pubescence (oblanceolate, glabrous on both sides vs spathulate to obovate, abaxially puberulous at base with glandular microhairs), antherode morphology (upper lobes conspicuously shorter than lower ones vs upper lobes equal to subequal to lower ones) (Table 2). It is also superficially similar to C. scabrata due to their gross morphology, leaf-blades abaxially hispid to hirsute with rusty hairs along the midvein, spathe eventually hispid to hirsute with rusty hairs, and 2 - valved fruits. However, they can be readily differentiated by their leaf-sheath pubescence (scabrid in C. sugariae sp. nov. vs hirsute in C. scabrata), blades shape, curvature, pubescence and apex (lanceolate to ovate, straight, scabrid or velutine on both sides, apex obtuse to acute vs narrowly oblong to narrowly elliptic, obliquely asymmetric, abaxially hirsute along the midvein, apex acuminate to long-acuminate), spathe connation and aspect in fruit (connate up to mid-length, remaining green vs connate to the apex or almost so, marcescent), upper cincinnus development and pubescence (developed, flowered, peduncle exserted from the spathe, lower cincinnus pilose with hook-hairs vs vestigial, flowerless, peduncle included in the spathe, lower cincinnus glabrous to sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs towards the apex), lower sepals connation (connate up to the upper third vs connate up to mid-length), paired petals limb base shape (cordate vs cuneate), medial anther colouration (with a vinaceous to dark purple spot on the connective vs lacking a vinaceous to dark purple spot on the connective), capsules colouration when mature (tan-coloured and shiny vs off-white and opaque), and the number of seeds per locule (locules 2 - seeded vs locules 1 - seeded) (Table 2). It is worth mentioning that the specimen Weyland Vieira 441 housed at the UEC herbarium (barcode 131898) actually represents Tripogandra diuretica (Mart.) Handlos, and thus, is excluded as a paratype.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA5FFEF415A05B89561F85F.taxon	description	Figs 2, 20; Table 1	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA5FFEF415A05B89561F85F.taxon	etymology	Etymology The epithet derives from the combination of the type locality ʻTexcocoʼ + the Latin suffix ʻ - ānā ʼ (indicating a place of origin).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA5FFEF415A05B89561F85F.taxon	materials_examined	Type material MEXICO – México • Texcoco, Molino de la Flor; 2300 m a. s. l.; 6 Aug. 1950; fl., fr.; E. Matuda 19249; lectotype: MEXU [MEXU 00090886]!, designated by Espejo-Serna & López-Ferrari (1995); isolectotypes: F [V 0045324 F, V 0045323 F]!, MEXU [MEXU 00090880]!. Selected material examined MEXICO – Distrito Federal • Pedregal; 16 Jun. 1938; fl.; E. K. Balls 4822; US. – Guanajuato • Apaseo el Grande, cerca de Ixtla; 16 Aug. 1986; fl.; J. Rzedowski 40348; MEXU. – Hidalgo • La Veguita, 5 km al NE de Metzquititlán; 3 Nov. 1975; fl., fr.; F. González Medrano et al. 8445; MEXU. – Jalisco • Valle de México, Mt. Zacoalco, près Gualalupe; 10 Aug. 1907; fl.; G. Arsène 648; CLF, P 4 ex. – México • Cambaya, San Juanico [San Juan Ixhuatepec], Tlalnepantla de Baz; 11 Aug. 1913; fl.; G. Arsène 8787; P. – Michoacán • Morelia Punguato; 5 Sep. 1917; fl., fr.; G. Arsène 8661; B, CAS, K, MA, MEXU, MO, P 2 ex, US. – Puebla • vicinity of Puebla; 11 Aug. 1906; fl.; G. Arsène 492; US. – Querétaro • parte baja del cerro en Tequiquiapan; 11 Oct. 2004; fl.; L. Hernádez 5478; MEXU, QMEX.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA5FFEF415A05B89561F85F.taxon	description	Description Herbs 70 – 150 cm tall, scrambling, perennial, robust, terrestrial or paludal. Roots tuberous, cylindric, with apical fusiform tubers. Rhizome short. Stems dimorphic, branched in the upper third; internodes 0.4 – 9.8 cm long, distally shorter, green suffused with red to atro-vinaceous, glabrous, with a sparse line of acicular hairs opposite to the leaves, hairs hyaline, primary branches ascending, rooting only at the base, secondary branches longer than the primary branches, scrambling, apex ascending. Leaves distichously-alternate, evenly distributed along the upper part of the stem, pseudopetiolate; sheaths 1.4 – 3.6 cm long, light green suffused with red to atro-vinaceous, glabrous, with a sparse line of setose hairs opposite to the blade, hairs acicular, hyaline, margin upright, ciliate, hairs acicular, hyaline; pseudopetiole inconspicuous to up to 5.6 mm long; blades 2 – 10.5 × (0.4 – 0.5 –) 1.2 – 3.1 cm, elliptic to lanceolate, straight, membranous to thinly chartaceous, adaxially dark green, abaxially light green, glabrous on both sides, base slightly asymmetric to symmetric, cuneate, margin flat, scabrid, apex acute to acuminate; midvein conspicuous, adaxially impressed, abaxially prominently obtuse, secondary veins 2 – 3 pairs, adaxially conspicuous, abaxially inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous on both sides when dry. Synflorescence composed of a solitary main florescence, restricted to the apex of the stems and forming a dense second-degree synflorescence. Inflorescences leaf-opposed, peduncle 1.2 – 4.1 cm long, the same length or longer than ½ length of the spathe, straight, velutine, hairs acicular, with a line of minute hook-hairs opposed to the spathe, hairs hyaline to white; spathe 1.9 – 4.6 × 1.3 – 3.9 cm, cordate, oblique to the peduncle and pointing downwards or continuous to the peduncle and pointing upwards, concolourous with the leaves, internally inconspicuously mucilaginous, base free, subcordate to round, externally glabrous to velutine, hairs hyaline to white, margin flat, apex acuminate, slightly falcate, veins 3 – 4 pairs, inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous when dry; upper cincinnus vestigial, flowerless, peduncle inconspicuous to up to 3.8 mm long, included, gently recurved at pre-anthesis and anthesis, recurved and exserted at post-anthesis and fruit, glabrous with some odd hook-hairs towards the apex, hairs hyaline; lower cincinnus 2 – 5 - flowered, flowers mainly bisexual, rarely staminate, peduncle 6.2 – 11.2 mm long, thickened in fruit, sparsely puberulous with minute hook-hairs towards the apex. Flowers chasmogamous, zygomorphic, enantiostylous (style dislocated to the opposite side to the medial stamen); floral buds 2.6 – 5.7 × 3.7 – 6.1 mm, obovoid, light green or white to light blue, dorsally setose, hairs hyaline; pedicel 1.9 – 5.5 mm long, deflexed in bud and at anthesis, reflexed and elongating in fruit, light green, pilose with acicular hairs, hairs hyaline; sepals light green, opaque, persistent and accrescent in fruit, dorsal sepal 3.8 – 5 × 1.3 – 2.9 mm, elliptic to narrowly triangular, concave, setose along the midvein, hairs acicular, long, hyaline, apex acute, lower sepals 4.4 – 5.9 × 2.8 – 4.6 mm, sessile, free, triangular to widely trullate, concave, glabrous, apex obtuse; paired petals 8.3 – 11.5 × 5.8 – 7.4 mm, clawed, claw 2.7 – 4.3 mm long, white to light blue or mauve-purple to purple, limb 5.6 – 7.3 × 5.8 – 7.4 mm, widely reniform to widely rhombic-reniform, white or light blue to blueish-purple, base asymmetric, truncate, apex obtuse, medial petal 4.3 – 6.1 × 3.5 – 4.5 mm, shortly-clawed, claw 0.7 – 1.2 mm long, white to light blue or mauve-purple to purple, limb 3.8 – 4.9 × 3.5 – 4.5 mm, widely sagittate, entire, concave, concolourous with the paired petals, opaque, glabrous on both sides, apex obtuse; staminodes 2, medial staminode completely absent, filaments 4 – 5 mm long, straight to arcuate-decurved, white or light blue, base white or mauve-purple, upper half light blue or purple, antherodes 0.4 – 0.9 × 0.6 – 0.8 mm, scarcely X-shaped, white, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes present, non-polliniferous or producing very few grains, not apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes reduced, depressed obovate, much smaller than the lower, lower lobes filiform; lateral filaments 6 – 8 mm long, gently sigmoid, geniculate distal to the middle, apex gently recurved, white or light blue, base white or mauve-purple, apex light blue or purple, anthers 0.9 – 1.1 × 0.4 – 0.6 mm, held near the medial anther, sagittate, pale yellow to yellow, connective white to cream-coloured, pollen yellow, drying ochre; medial filament 5 – 8 mm long, arcuate-decurved, apex recurved to strongly recurved, white or light blue, base white or mauve-purple, apex light blue or purple, anther 1.5 – 1.9 × 0.7 – 0.8 mm, held near the lateral anthers, oblong-sagittate to saddle-shaped, curved, pale yellow to yellow, connective hastate, white to cream-coloured, anther sacs appressed to each other, pollen yellow, drying ochre; ovary 1.3 – 1.9 × 0.7 – 1.1 mm, 3 - carpellate, 5 - ovulate, ellipsoid to widely ellipsoid, green, smooth, glabrous, style 6 – 8 mm long, equalling or exceeding the stamens, sigmoid, base tapering into the ovary, apex strongly recurved, white or light blue, base white or mauve-purple, apex light blue or purple, deciduous in fruit, stigma capitate, white. Capsules 1 – 2 per spathe, 6.2 – 8.1 × 2.8 – 4 mm, fusiform to ellipsoid, short-stipitate, stipe 0.8 – 1.4 mm long, fruit wall thick, apex rostrate, not constricted between the seeds when mature, becoming constricted between the seeds when mature, tan-coloured when mature, opaque, smooth, 3 - locular, 3 - valved, valves splitting to base, dorsal locule 1 - seeded, dehiscent, ventral locules 2 - seeded, dehiscent. Seeds dimorphic, dark brown to black; dorsal locule seed 3.1 – 3.9 × 2.3 – 2.8 mm, free from the fruit wall, ellipsoid, dorsiventrally compressed, ventrally flattened, slightly cleft towards the embryotega, testa shallowly rugose, with some small furrows on the side opposed to the embryotega, densely farinose, farinae cream-coloured, embryotega semilateral, inconspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum linear, longer than ½ the length of the seed; ventral locule seeds 1.9 – 2.5 × 1.8 – 2.6 mm, free from the fruit wall, triangular, truncate at one end, ventrally flattened, not cleft towards the embryotega, testa shallowly rugose to irregularly rugose, densely farinose, farinae cream-coloured, embryotega semilateral to lateral, inconspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum linear, ca ½ the length of the seed.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA5FFEF415A05B89561F85F.taxon	distribution	Distribution Commelina texcocana is currently endemic to central Mexico (the Distrito Federal and the States of México and Michoacán) (Fig. 2).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA5FFEF415A05B89561F85F.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology It grows in lower altitude water-lodge seasonal formations, generally between bushes and close to water bodies. Phenology It was found in bloom and fruits from August to September.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA5FFEF415A05B89561F85F.taxon	vernacular_names	Vernacular names Tetzocana (Mexico), hierba del pollo (Mexico).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA5FFEF415A05B89561F85F.taxon	conservation	Conservation Commelina texcocana is known from several locations, presents a very wide EOO (251 840 km 2) and a wide AOO (ca 736 km 2), and does not meet the thresholds for criterium B. No information is currently available on this species’ populational trends or threats. Therefore, following the IUCN (2012) criteria and the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) recommendations, we recommend C. texcocana should be considered Least Concern (LC, criterium B).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA5FFEF415A05B89561F85F.taxon	discussion	Remarks Commelina texcocana is similar to C. almandina sp. nov. and C. pallida due to its peduncle and spathe straight, spathe base subcordate to round, pedicels pilose with acicular hairs, style slightly longer than the stamens, stigma white, fruits dehiscent, 3 - valved, fruit wall thick, opaque and constricted between the seeds when mature, with apex rostrate, style deciduous in fruit, dorsal locule 1 - seeded, ventral locules 2 - seeded, and seeds dimorphic, ellipsoid and ventrally flattened (Table 1). As aforementioned, C. texcocana and C. pallida have been traditionally confused due to their morphological similarity. Nonetheless, both of them can be differentiated based on the colouration of their stem, leaf-sheath and leaf-blade indumentum, leaf-blade base shape, shape and posture of the spathe apex, sepals pubescence, shape of the dorsal sepal, the position of the lower sepals, petal colouration, and antherode morphology (Table 1).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA9FFEA41BD001096ABFA04.taxon	description	Figs 15, 21; Table 2	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA9FFEA41BD001096ABFA04.taxon	etymology	Etymology The epithet derives from the Latin ʻ vestīo ʼ (meaning ʻcloth, dress, coverʼ) + the suffix ʻ - īta ʼ (indicating the possession of a particular feature), in reference to the dense velutine to hispid indumentum covering most of this species’ organs.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA9FFEA41BD001096ABFA04.taxon	materials_examined	Type material BRAZIL – São Paulo • Brasilia meridionali; s. dat.; fl., fr.; F. Sellow 5313; B [†] • Brasilia meridionali; s. dat.; fl., fr.; F. Sellow 5313; lectotype: BR [BR 0000035068044]!, designated here. Selected material examined BRAZIL – Rio de Janeiro • Itatiaia, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, parte baixa, atrás da casa do pesquisador; 24 Jan. 2012; fl.; M. O. O. Pellegrini & L. S. Sylvestre 188; RB. – São Paulo • São Paulo, Parque do Estado, grounds of the Instituto de Botânica, 9.8 km south and 0.8 km east of center of São Paulo, Praça de Sé; 25 Mar. 1961; fl., fr.; G. S. Eiten & L. T. Eiten 2748; MO, NY, SPF.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA9FFEA41BD001096ABFA04.taxon	description	Description Herbs 20 – 50 cm tall, erect, perennial, delicate, rupicolous or terrestrial. Roots fibrous, thin. Rhizome short. Stems monomorphic, suberect to erect throughout, unbranched or branched only at base; internodes 1.2 – 12.4 cm long, distally shorter, green to dark green, sometimes speckled or longitudinally striated with vinaceous to dark purple, velutine to hispid, hairs acicular, light brown to brown. Leaves distichously-alternate, evenly distributed along the stem to slightly congested at the apex of the stem, pseudopetiolate; sheaths 0.3 – 1.8 cm long, light green, longitudinally striated with dark green, sometimes speckled or with vinaceous to dark purple, velutine to hispid, hairs acicular, light brown to brown, margin upright, hispid, hairs acicular, light brown to brown; pseudopetiole inconspicuous to up to 4.6 mm long; blades 1.1 – 7.8 × 0.8 – 2.7 cm, lanceolate to ovate, straight, membranous to thinly chartaceous, adaxially dark green, sometimes speckled or longitudinally striated with longitudinal vinaceous to dark purple, abaxially light green speckled with vinaceous to dark purple to completely vinaceous to dark purple, adaxially velutine to densely velutine, abaxially velutine to hispid, base asymmetric, cuneate, margin flat, scabrid, apex obtuse to acute; midvein conspicuous, adaxially impressed, abaxially prominently obtuse, secondary veins 3 – 4 pairs, adaxially conspicuous, abaxially inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous on both sides when dry. Synflorescence composed of a solitary main florescence or main florescence plus 1 – 3 co-florescences, restricted to the apex of the stems. Inflorescences terminal or apparently so, peduncle 0.3 – 0.9 cm long, shorter than ½ length of the spathe, straight, velutine to hispid with a mixture of acicular and hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; spathe 0.9 – 2.1 × 1.5 – 3.2 cm, cordate to widely cordate, rarely depressed ovate, patent to the peduncle, concolourous with the leaves, internally conspicuously mucilaginous, base connate up to mid-length, truncate to subcordate, externally velutine to hispid, hairs acicular to setose, hyaline, internally sparsely velutine, hairs acicular, hyaline, margin flat, apex obtuse to acute, straight, veins 4 – 5 pairs, inconspicuous, becoming conspicuous when dry; upper cincinnus developed, 2 – 8 - flowered, flowers mainly staminate, sometimes bisexual, peduncle 1.5 – 2.9 cm long, exserted, J-shaped to decurved at pre-anthesis, gently decurved at anthesis, post-anthesis and fruit, densely puberulous with minute hook-hairs, hairs hyaline; lower cincinnus 7 – 10 - flowered, flowers mainly bisexual, sometimes staminate, peduncle 0.6 – 1.3 cm long, thickened in fruit, puberulous with minute hook-hairs. Flowers chasmogamous, strongly zygomorphic, enantiostylous (style dislocated to the opposite side to the medial stamen); floral buds 2.4 – 6.5 × 2.1 – 6.3 mm, obovoid, light green or light blue, glabrous; pedicel 2.6 – 6.2 mm long, deflexed in bud and at anthesis, reflexed and elongating in fruit, light green, glabrous; sepals hyaline, persistent and accrescent in fruit, dorsal sepal 3.1 – 5.2 × 2.3 – 3.6 mm, elliptic to ovate, concave, glabrous, apex acute, lower sepals 3.9 – 5.8 × 3 – 4.2 mm, shortly-clawed, connate up to mid-length, oblique-obovate to widely oblique-obovate, concave, glabrous, apex obtuse; paired petals 0.6 – 1.2 × 0.6 – 0.9 cm, clawed, claw 2.9 – 4.9 mm long, sky blue, limb 5.4 – 8.7 × 5.7 – 9.2 mm, ovate-reniform to widely ovate-reniform, sky blue, base asymmetric, cordate to sagittate, apex round to slightly emarginate, medial petal 6.3 – 8.7 × 0.8 – 1.3 mm, sessile, oblong to spathulate, entire, apex slightly involute, discolourous with the paired petals, white, hyaline, glabrous on both sides, apex obtuse; staminodes 3, medial staminode equal to the laterals, filaments 3.1 – 5.7 mm long, straight to arcuate-recurved, white, base tan-coloured, antherodes 0.5 – 1.2 × 1 – 1.6 mm, X-shaped, yellow, minute pollen sacs between the upper and lower lobes present, non-polliniferous or producing very few grains, apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes conspicuous, spathulate, shorter than the lower, lower lobes spathulate; lateral filaments 6.2 – 9.6 mm long, almost straight to very gently sigmoid, apex gently recurved, tan-coloured, base white, apex pale brownish-mauve, anthers 1.2 – 1.5 × 0.6 – 0.9 mm, held near the stigma, elliptic to ovate, pale orange-yellow to pale apricot connective pale orange-yellow to pale apricot, pollen yellowish-orange to cream-orange, drying orange-yellow to pale apricot; medial filament 3.1 – 5.7 mm long, straight to arcuate-recurved, apex gently recurved, tan-coloured, base white, apex pale brownish-mauve, anther 1.3 – 2 × 0.9 – 1.5 mm, held near the antherodes, widely oblong to widely elliptic, slightly curved, pale orange-yellow to pale apricot, connective shield-shaped, pale orange-yellow to pale apricot, with a vinaceous to atro-vinaceous spot at centre, anther sacs not appressed to each other, pollen yellowish-orange to cream-orange, drying orange-yellow to pale apricot; ovary 1.1 – 1.7 × 0.7 – 1.2 mm, 3 - carpellate, 5 - ovulate, ellipsoid to widely ellipsoid, green, smooth, glabrous, style 5.6 – 8.5 mm long, equalling or slightly exceeding the stamens, almost straight to very gently sigmoid, apex gently recurved, base cylindric, tan-coloured, base white, apex pale brownish-mauve, deciduous in fruit, stigma trilobate, white to tan-coloured. Capsules 6 – 9 per spathe, 4.5 – 6.7 × 2.7 – 4.5 mm, obovoid, sessile, fruit wall thin, apex truncate, constricted between the seeds, tan-coloured when mature, shiny, smooth, 3 - locular, unequally 2 - valved, dorsal locule 1 - seeded, indehiscent, ventral locules 2 - seeded, dehiscent, valves splitting to the base. Seeds dimorphic, brown to dark brown; dorsal locule seed 3.1 – 4.9 × 1.4 – 2.4 mm, adnate to the fruit wall, ellipsoid, dorsiventrally compressed, ventrally flattened, slightly cleft towards the embryotega, testa foveolate, non-farinose, embryotega semilateral, inconspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum linear, ca ½ the length of the seed, on a weak ridge; ventral locule seeds 2.1 – 3.3 × 1.3 – 2.2 mm, free from the fruit wall, ellipsoid to reniform, truncate at one end, ventrally flattened, not cleft towards the embryotega, testa rugose-foveolate, sparsely farinose, farinae white, embryotega semilateral, conspicuous, with a prominent apicule, hilum curved, ca ½ the length of the seed, on a weak ridge.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA9FFEA41BD001096ABFA04.taxon	distribution	Distribution	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA9FFEA41BD001096ABFA04.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology It grows in the understory of secondary rainforests (Atlantic Forest biome), between 800 – 1000 m a. s. l. Phenology It was found in bloom and fruit from October to December. The flowers open during the morning (around 10: 00 AM) and remain open for just a few hours, depending on the temperature and humidity. Floral visitors were not observed in the field and cultivation, but fruits were consistently produced. This suggests C. vestita is self-compatible, which is also supported by its lateral anthers held near or touching the stigma, enabling self-pollination (Pellegrini, pers. obs.). Furthermore, despite no floral visitors having been observed visiting the flowers of C. vestita (both in the wild and in cultivation), fruit production is between 90 % and 100 % in cultivation (Pellegrini, pers. obs.). Sexual reproduction seems to be the species’ primary reproductive strategy. This seems to be supported by their erect growth form and short rhizome, which makes them less likely to reproduce clonally. Broken or bent stems are able to root and form new individuals, but this is very uncommon in the wild (Pellegrini pers. obs.). However, fruits and seed sets are very high and seem to ensure populational stability (Pellegrini, pers. obs.).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA9FFEA41BD001096ABFA04.taxon	vernacular_names	Vernacular names Trapoeraba cabeluda (Brazil), andacá peludo (Brazil), manobi-ába (Brazil), andacá-ába (Brazil), Anda ka’a aba (Brazil – Guarani). Uses Used in traditional medicine in Brazil for its diuretic and emollient properties (Pellegrini, pers. obs.).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA9FFEA41BD001096ABFA04.taxon	conservation	Conservation Commelina vestita presents a wide EOO (53 133 km 2) but a narrow AOO (ca 284 km 2). Its known populations are significantly small, consisting of less than 20 mature individuals. These populations do seem to be surprisingly stable if undisturbed (Pellegrini, pers. obs.). However, C. vestita has been recorded growing exclusively in secondary forests and other environments under intense anthropic pressure. Some of the observed populations were greatly affected or extinct as a result of a steep decline in environmental quality. Thus, following the IUCN (2012) criteria and the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) recommendations, we suggest C. vestita should be considered Endangered [EN, B 2 b (ii, iii, iv, v) c (iv) + C 2 a (i), b].	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFA9FFEA41BD001096ABFA04.taxon	discussion	Nomenclatural remarks The specimen at B cited by Seubert (1855) has been apparently destroyed during WWII (Robert Vogt, pers. comm.). Nonetheless, we have been able to locate a duplicate at BR, which most likely represents the specimen analysed by Clarke (1881) for his monograph on Commelinaceae. The specimen at BR is in perfect condition, and since it matches the protologue, it is designated here as the lectotype. Remarks Hassemer (2017 a) stated C. vestita to be a name of dubious application. Nonetheless, the protologue is far from being “ not informative enough ”, as stated by the author. It describes the vegetative organs and the inflorescence as presenting a very characteristic velutine to hispid pubescence, not found in any other species of Commelina from Brazil. Furthermore, Seubert (1855) compares his new species with C. robusta, stating that both species have very similar flowers and identical fruits and seeds. The only issue in Seubert’s description is where he states that C. vestita has an aborted [sic] upper cincinnus. After analysing the type at BR, it became clear that this was incorrect. One of the upper cincinni in the type specimen even presents open flowers and floral buds. Furthermore, based on the analysed herbarium specimens and plants kept in cultivation, the upper cincinnus of C. vestita is always many-flowered, much like in C. robusta. Therefore, C. vestita is morphologically most similar to C. robusta due to their gross morphology, involute and entire medial petal, ovary and capsules smooth, dorsal seed with testa rugose-foveolate, and ventral seeds white-farinose. They can be differentiated based on their stature (delicate and up to 50 cm tall in C. vestita vs robust and up to 2 m tall in C. robusta), stem posture and branching (erect, unbranched to branched at base vs prostrate, ascending or scrambling, sometimes erect, branched throughout or branched in the upper third), indumentum of the vegetative organs and inflorescences (stems velutine to hispid; leaf-sheath margin with light brown to brown hairs spathe externally velutine to hispid, internally sparsely velutine, margin glabrous vs stems scabrid to glabrous, leaf-sheath margin with red to dark red to atro-vinaceous hairs, spathe glabrous on both sides, margin setose near the base), the abaxial colouration of the leaf-blades (completely to only speckled with vinaceous to dark purple vs light green), the shape of the dorsal sepal (elliptic to ovate vs triangular to widely triangular), the shape of the limb of the paired petals (ovate-reniform to widely ovate-reniform vs very widely ovate-reniform to depressed ovate-reniform), the shape, colouration and posture of the medial petal (oblong to oblanceolate, white, apex involute vs spathulate to obovate, light blue to pale lilac, completely involute), antherode morphology (apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes shorter than the lower ones vs not apiculate between the upper lobes, upper lobes equal to the lower ones), anther colouration and position (pale orange-yellow to pale apricot, lateral anthers held near the stigma, medial anther held near the antherodes vs orange-yellow to orange, lateral anthers held near the medial anther), and the posture of the style (almost straight to very gently sigmoid vs sigmoid, apex strongly recurved) (Table 2). Misapplied or dubious Neotropical names	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFADFFF542E904FB9127FD49.taxon	etymology	Etymology The epithet derives from the combination of the Latin ʻ congestī ʼ (meaning ʻclustered, togetherʼ) + the Ancient Greek ʻ σπάθη ʼ (spáthē, meaning ʻany broad bladeʼ), in reference to this species’ very dense synflorescences composed of several spathes (i. e., inflorescences).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFADFFF542E904FB9127FD49.taxon	materials_examined	Type material MEXICO – Guanajuato • Cuerámaro, 1.2 km después de Canãda de Corralejo, rumbo a la barranca de El Chilar; 4 Sep. 2006; fl., fr.; A. Espejo et al. 6903; lectotype: UAMIZ [UAMIZ 0068668]!, designated here; isolectotypes: CIIDIR n. v., IBUG n. v., IEB [IEB 0233919]!, QMEX n. v., UAMIZ [UAMIZ 0068663]!, [UAMIZ 0068671]!, UJAT n. v.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFADFFF542E904FB9127FD49.taxon	discussion	Remarks Commelina congestispatha has been recently reduced to a synonym of C. robusta (as C. obliqua; Hassemer 2019). Despite the plant’s gross morphology resembling C. robusta, C. congestispatha is indisputably more closely related to C. erecta due to its auriculate leaf-sheaths, leaf-blades with red to vinaceous margin, vestigial and flowerless upper cincinnus, lower sepals completely connate and cup-shaped, hyaline and involute medial petal, capsules with verrucose dorsal valve, and appendaged seeds with smooth testa (Lopez-Ferrari et al. 2009; Pellegrini, pers. obs.). Nonetheless, the number of inflorescences congested at the stems’ apex [i. e., 3 – 10 florescences per synflorescence C. congestispatha vs 1 (– 3) in C. erecta], the posture of the paired petals (in an obtuse angle to almost in the same plane to each other vs in an acute angle to each other, commonly partially overlapping), the length of the paired petals’ claw (1 – 1.5 mm vs 3 – 8.5 mm long), the length of the paired petals’ limb (6.7 – 7.2 mm long vs 11 – 23 mm long), and the shape of the antherodes (lobes subrotund vs spathulate) undoubtedly supports both species as distinct. Thus, we reestablish C. congestispatha as a Mexican endemic, closely related to C. erecta.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB2FFF5413902269116F895.taxon	etymology	Etymology The epithet derives from the combination of the Latin genitive ʻ cordis ʼ (meaning ʻheartʼ) + the Ancient Greek ʻ σπάθη ʼ (spáthē, meaning ʻany broad bladeʼ), in reference to this species’ cordate spathes.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB2FFF5413902269116F895.taxon	materials_examined	Type material EL SALVADOR – Chalatenango • Weg Hda. Sta. Cruz, “ La Laguna ”, near Chalatenango; 700 m a. s. l.; 25 Nov. 1950; fl., fr.; O. Rohweder 882; lectotype: HBG [HBG- 514345]!, designated by Hassemer (2020); isolectotypes HBG [HBG- 514346, HBG- 514347]!.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB2FFF5413902269116F895.taxon	discussion	Accepted species Commelina tuberosa L. Remarks Commelina diffusa var. cordispatha Rohweder was erroneously considered by Hassemer (2020) as a synonym of C. texcocana. However, no rationale was provided, and based on the analysis of the type specimens and protologue, this cannot be sustained. Commelina diffusa var. cordispatha clearly presents an ascending to erect habit, which prevents it from being associated with C. texcocana or C. pallida. Furthermore, fruit and seed morphology does not match these species, further distancing it from these species. Nonetheless, this name does fit perfectly into Hassemer’s (2020) own very broad and allencompassing circumscription of C. tuberosa s. lat. Due to the massive number of names officially and unofficially associated with the C. tuberosa species complex, we choose to take a conservative approach and tentatively place it under the synonymy of C. tuberosa s. lat. until further studies are carried out.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB2FFF44126067A9112FAE1.taxon	materials_examined	Type material GUYANA • s. loc., In swampy areas of the savannah and on the banks of rivers; s. dat.; fl.; M. R. Schomburgk 387; neotype: P [P 01795521]!, designated here. Accepted species Commelina diffusa Burm. f. Nomenclatural remarks No specimens were cited by either Klotzsch (Schomburgk 1849) or Martius (1855). However, while visiting the P herbarium, we came across a specimen (P 01795521) that perfectly matches the diagnoses provided by both authors. Furthermore, the label is from the same expedition as P 00752552, which is annotated as being the type of C. platyphylla Klotzsch ex Seub., which shares the same publication record as C. guyanensis. Therefore, we designate this specimen as the neotype for C. guyanensis, also fixing its application as conspecific with C. diffusa.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB2FFF44126067A9112FAE1.taxon	discussion	Remarks Commelina guyanensis Klotzsch ex Seub. has been traditionally regarded as a synonym of C. rufipes. Klotzsch’s original description (Schomburgk 1849) was done solely in German, lacking a Latin diagnosis or description, making the name not effectively published. However, the German diagnosis described the species as a perennial herb growing on swampy savannah and riverbanks, which prevents it from being conspecific with C. rufipes (a species from the non-flooded understory of rainforests). Later, Martius (1855) finally provided a Latin diagnosis, which characterised the species as having glabrous stems, leaf-sheaths margin setose with light brown hairs, leaf-blades lanceolate with acuminate apex and vinaceous veins, inflorescences subterminal and “ short-pedunculate ” [sic], spathe conduplicate (i. e., base free), “ pedicels 2 ” (i. e., with 2 developed cincinni) with the upper one hirtellous and “ sterile ” [sic], capsules glabrous, and seeds free. These characters make it impossible for this name to represent a synonym of C. obliqua, let alone C. rufipes. However, both diagnoses confidently place the species in the C. diffusa group. As aforementioned, the selected neotype is conspecific with the current circumscription of C. diffusa. Thus, this name is excluded from the synonymy of C. rufipes and placed under the synonymy of C. diffusa.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB3FFF742E8048E9754FCB7.taxon	etymology	Etymology Named after the collector of the type specimen, British gardener Andrew Mathews.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB3FFF742E8048E9754FCB7.taxon	materials_examined	Type material PERU – Huánuco • Cassapi; 1840; fl.; A. Mathews 148; lectotype: K [K 000363242]!, designated by Faden & Hunt (1987).	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB3FFF742E8048E9754FCB7.taxon	distribution	Distribution If distinct from C. robusta, then extending from northeastern Bolivia up to southeastern Peru, along the Andes.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB3FFF742E8048E9754FCB7.taxon	discussion	Remarks Commelina mathewsii has been a taxonomically dubious name since its description (Clarke 1881: 138). It was initially placed in the genus Phaeosphaerion despite the fact that the only known collection having only flowers and no fruits. Clarke based his decision on the flowers presenting “ hastate-triangular ” antherodes. The type specimen does seem morphologically similar to C. robusta due to gross morphology and C. rufipes due to its peculiar villose leaf-blade pubescence. Nonetheless, the label does not specify flower colour, nor does the specimen allow for that to be confirmed due to its poor preservation. Based on a handful of similar-looking specimens from Bolivia and Peru, it seems that leaf-blade pubescence is constant in these specimens, that flowers are blue and not white as in C. rufipes, and that fruits are dehiscent tan-coloured capsules. These characters, combined with leaf-blade pubescence and the antherode shape, would support C. mathewsii as a distinct species. Thus, C. mathewsii is most likely distinct but closely related to C. robusta. However, since we haven’t been able to study fresh specimens or herbarium ones with well-preserved flowers, we choose to retain this species as a dubious name instead of treating it as distinct or a synonym of C. robusta.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB0FFF742ED02259663F9EE.taxon	etymology	Etymology From the Latin ʻ parvus ʼ (meaning ʻsmallʼ) + ʻ flora ʼ (meaning ʻflowerʼ), in reference to its small flowers.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB0FFF742ED02259663F9EE.taxon	materials_examined	Type material MEXICO • s. loc.; s. dat.; fl., fr.; J. A. Pavón s. n.; lectotype: BM [BM 000938212]!, designated by Hassemer (2020); isolectotypes: BM [BM 000938207, BM 000938208, BM 000938210, BM 000938211]!. Accepted species Commelina tuberosa L.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB0FFF742ED02259663F9EE.taxon	discussion	Remarks Commelina pallida var. parviflora was quickly reduced to a synonym after its publication, adding to the taxonomic confusion of this broadly circumscribed species. However, this taxon presents well-developed and flower-bearing upper cincinnus, which prevents it from being conspecific to either C. pallida or C. texcocana. Morphologically, it seems to be a member of the C. tuberosa species complex. However, we consider it premature to reestablish this name as accepted in the present study before all names and species from this very complex group are appropriately studied. Thus, we tentatively place it under the synonymy of C. tuberosa s. lat.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB0FFF6417F078F9616F85E.taxon	etymology	Etymology From the Latin ʻ persicarius ʼ (meaning ʻpeach treeʼ) + ʻ folia ʼ (meaning ʻleafʼ), in reference to its leaves being similar to those of the genus Persicaria Mill. (Polygonaceae), which was named after its leaves, which look similar to those of peach trees [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, Rosaceae].	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB0FFF6417F078F9616F85E.taxon	materials_examined	Type material Original illustration of Les Liliacées at the W. Graham Arader Gallery and later published in Redouté 1815: pl. 472; lectotype, designated here.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB0FFF6417F078F9616F85E.taxon	discussion	Remarks Commelina persicariifolia was cultivated in the gardens of the Muséum dʼHistoire naturelle Paris (Redouté 1815). However, the author states not knowing where the plant was originally collected. After analysing the protologue and original illustration of C. persicariifolia Redouté, it became clear that this species does not represent a synonym of C. rufipes nor of C. obliqua as it has been widely accepted for the past 200 years or so. Redouté (1815) describes his new species as presenting cordate spathe and flowers with subequal, light blue to lilac petals, which would place this species near the C. diffusa or C. tuberosa groups. Redouté (1815) describes the inflorescences as presenting very short peduncles, which is also shown in the original illustration (Redouté 1815: pl. 472). Furthermore, the illustration shows the inflorescences being produced in an apparently terminal position. These inflorescence characters could suggest C. persicariifolia to be a member of any of the C. benghalensis, C. erecta, C. robusta, or C. tuberosa groups. The association with the C. robusta group was previously made by Hunt (1981) and Faden & Hunt (1987), but no rationale was provided. Nonetheless, all species in this group have unequal petals, which also applies to the C. benghalensis and C. erecta groups. Another peculiarity in the original illustration of C. persicariifolia is that the leaves are spirally-alternate, a very rare feature in the genus that has been greatly overlooked. This peculiar character gave us the needed information to ascertain this name’s identity and application. After analysing the type of C. quitensis, we noticed that the leaves are also spirally-alternate, which is shared with some other members of the C. tuberosa group. The very short peduncle could merely be an optical artefact of the angle illustrated by Redouté (1815: pl. 472). Furthermore, Redouté (1815) provides no measurement for the length of the peduncle, making “ short ” and “ long ” very relative terms. Regardless, the type specimens of C. quitensis present comparatively short peduncles in regard to the many species of the C. tuberosa group. Furthermore, the inflorescences are mostly leaf-opposed, but an apparently terminal inflorescence is also observed in the illustration. This feature is shared with several species of the C. tuberosa group but absent in the C. diffusa group. Of the 17 species currently recognised in the C. tuberosa group, C. quitensis is by far the best match. Both species share erect, branched and glabrous stems, spirally-alternate pseudopetiolate leaves, leaf-sheaths with setose margins, a combination of leaf-opposed and apparently terminal inflorescences with short peduncles, cordate spathe with free base, developed and exserted but generally flowerless upper cincinnus, green and opaque free sepals, light blue to lilac flowers, and the shortly-clawed medial petal. Based on the aforementioned characters, we consider C. persicariifolia and C. quitensis to be conspecific. Since C. persicariifolia has priority over C. quitensis, it is treated as the correct name for this taxon, with C. quitensis reduced to a synonym.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB6FFF04152077994B6FE4F.taxon	description	Commelina paludosa Blume.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB6FFF04152077994B6FE4F.taxon	discussion	Remarks This name was never actually published since Roxburgh cites it as “ C. communis. Linn. Sp. Pl. ed. Willd. 1. 249. ”, making it clear he was applying Linnaeus’s name, regardless of whether it was correctly applied or not. Commelina communis L. does not occur in India and seems to represent a misapplication to the species known as C. paludosa Blume, which Clarke (1881) treated as a synonym of his interpretation of C. obliqua (which equates to our current use of C. robusta). Commelina paludosa is morphologically very similar to the Neotropical C. scabrata but can be differentiated by its scrambling habit, sessile and free lower sepals, lilac or white paired petals with limb base cordate, antherode lobes oblanceolate to spathulate, capsules widely obovoid, smooth and 3 - valved, each locule 1 - seeded, and seeds with smooth testa.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB6FFF1414A0010963BF984.taxon	etymology	Etymology From the Latin ʻ rubēns ʼ (meaning ʻredʼ), in reference to its red to vinaceous stems and leaf-sheaths.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB6FFF1414A0010963BF984.taxon	materials_examined	Type material Original illustration of Les Liliacées at the W. Graham Arader Gallery and later published in Redouté 1813: pl. 367; lectotype, designated here.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB6FFF1414A0010963BF984.taxon	discussion	Remarks Commelina rubens has previously been compared with C. pallida. It has also been erroneously considered to have been validly published by Kunth (1843: 659) (e. g., Tropicos. org 2025) or as not validly published at all (i. e., Hassemer 2020). As stated by Hassemer (2020), Kunth merely cites C. rubens as similar to C. stricta Desf., and thus the author deemed “ C. rubens Hort. Berol. ex Kunth ” as not validly published (Turland et al. 2018: Art. 36.1). Nonetheless, after much research, we were able to find this name to have been validly published by Redouté (1813). The protologue and original illustration (Redouté 1813: pl. 367) describe a species superficially similar to C. diffusa due to its procumbent stems, leaf-opposite inflorescences, spathe base free, subequal blue petals, and yellow antherodes and anthers. However, the inflorescence is described as having a single cincinnus, as shown in the illustration (Redouté 1813: pl. 367), making it impossible to represent C. diffusa or any Neotropical members of this species group. Other distinguishing features are the spirally-alternate leaves, very short inflorescence peduncle and the shape of the spathe (i. e., lanceolate, falcate, base subcordate to obtuse), the concave subequal petals, added to the hispid stems, leaf-sheaths and abaxially hispid leaf-blades. These combined characters strongly suggest this species belongs to the C. tuberosa group and is closely related to the also poorly understood C. persicariifolia. Both species are clearly distinct from C. tuberosa s. str. and are here reestablished as accepted. Commelina rubens was also cultivated in the gardens of the Muséum dʼHistoire naturelle Paris (Redouté 1813). However, the author states not knowing where the plant was originally collected. Similar to C. persicariifolia, we believe this plant most likely originated from Ecuador, based on our studies of the C. tuberosa group specimens from the region. The original illustration is here designated as the lectotype for this name, and we refrain from designating any epitypes at this moment before we have been able to analyse the members of the C. tuberosa group more carefully. Misapplied Palaeotropical names	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB7FFF04122032D9112FB05.taxon	discussion	Remarks Commelina obliqua Buch. - Ham. ex D. Don represents a posterior homonym to C. obliqua Vahl and is thus illegitimate. This name also seems to represent the source of the historical association of C. obliqua Vahl with the taxon correctly named C. robusta. The Palaeotropical C. obliqua Buch. - Ham. ex D. Don (= C. paludosa) is indeed a member of the C. robusta group and very similar to C. scabrata. Alternatively, C. obliqua Vahl actually represents the correct name for the Neotropical taxon that has so far been treated as C. rufipes var. glabrata (see Remarks for C. obliqua Vahl). Regarding the correct author of Heterocarpus obliquus, since C. obliqua Buch. - Ham. ex D. Don is illegitimate, and illegitimate names cannot be combined (Turland et al. 2018: Art. 6.10). Thus, H. obliquus represents a replacement name (i. e., a new name) for this taxon under Heterocarpus, with the correct author citation being “ Hassk. ”.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB7FFF0410C05F795B8F89C.taxon	materials_examined	Type material INDONESIA – Java • Mt. Guedeh, Tjipanas, à côté de la source chaude; 22 Apr. 1904; fl.; B. P. G. Hochreutiner 1050; holotype: G n. v.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB7FFF0410C05F795B8F89C.taxon	discussion	Accepted species Commelina paludosa Blume. Remarks Commelina obliqua f. albiflora was described under the illegitimate Commelina obliqua Buch. - Ham. ex D. Don for the white-flowered individuals of what we currently understand as C. paludosa. Given that colour variation is shown here to be very common in Commelina, we propose this name should be treated only as a synonym.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB7FFF3415F06719172FC57.taxon	materials_examined	Type material INDIA – Bolamputty Mountains • near Coimbatore; Nov. 1852; fl., fr.; R. Wight s. n.; lectotype: K [K 000794525]!, designated here; isolectotype: K [K 000794526]! pro parte, material on the upper half of the sheet.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB7FFF3415F06719172FC57.taxon	discussion	Accepted species Commelina paludosa Blume. Remarks Commelina polyspatha represents a synonym of the Asian C. paludosa and is thus excluded from the Neotropical gem-fruited species. As aforementioned, this species presents a vestigial and flowerless upper cincinnus, capsules 3 - valved, with 1 - seeded locules, seeds with smooth testa, embryotega lateral, and hilum curved. These characters make it very similar to C. scabrata, which, aside from the obvious intercontinental disjunction, can be differentiated by its paired petals limb with a cuneate base and white claw, antherodes with upper lobes very widely obovate and larger than the lower, lower lobes widely oblong to subquadrangular, unequally 2 - valved prismatic capsules with verrucose walls, and seeds with ornate testa. Nonetheless, we have yet to be able to confirm if the capsules of C. paludosa (as well as the closely related C. maculata Edgew.) also present ventral valves that only split up to mid-length. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the relationship and morphological differences between the Palaeotropical C. maculata and C. paludosa and the Neotropical C. bambusifolia and C. scabrata.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
03FC3925FFB4FFF3412C0505968CFA70.taxon	discussion	Remarks Commelina semiovata also represents a synonym of the Asian C. paludosa and is thus excluded from the Neotropical gem-fruited species. The confusion also seems to be rooted in the use of the posterior synonym C. obliqua Buch. - Ham. ex D. Don.	en	Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Cornejo, Xavier, Morais, Isa Lucia De, De Almeida, Rafael F., Michelan, Thaisa S. (2025): We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies. European Journal of Taxonomy 1020: 1-94, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.1020.3073, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3073/13709
