''Aneilema'' is a genus of

monocotyledonous Monocotyledons (), commonly referred to as monocots, (Lilianae ''sensu'' Chase & Reveal) are grass and grass-like flowering plants (angiosperms), the seeds of which typically contain only one embryonic leaf, or cotyledon. They constitute one of t ...

plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in

Oceania Oceania (, , ) is a region, geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Spanning the Eastern Hemisphere, Eastern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of ...

and one, ''

Aneilema brasiliense ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'', is from

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the souther ...

.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> It is the third largest genus in the family

Commelinaceae Commelinaceae is a family of flowering plants. In less formal contexts, the group is referred to as the dayflower family or spiderwort family. It is one of five families in the order Commelinales and by far the largest of these with about 731 kn ...

after ''

Commelina ''Commelina'' is a genus of approximately 170 species commonly called dayflowers due to the short lives of their flowers. They are less often known as widow's tears. It is by far the largest genus of its family, Commelinaceae. The Swedish taxonom ...

'' and ''

Tradescantia ''Tradescantia'' () is a genus of 85 species of herbaceous perennial wildflowers in the family Commelinaceae, native to the Americas from southern Canada to northern Argentina, including the West Indies. Members of the genus are known by many com ...

'', and it is one of only six genera in the family to occur in both the

Eastern Hemisphere The Eastern Hemisphere is the half of the planet Earth which is east of the prime meridian (which crosses Greenwich, London, United Kingdom) and west of the antimeridian (which crosses the Pacific Ocean and relatively little land from pole to po ...

and the

Western Hemisphere The Western Hemisphere is the half of the planet Earth that lies west of the prime meridian (which crosses Greenwich, London, United Kingdom) and east of the antimeridian. The other half is called the Eastern Hemisphere. Politically, th ...

. ''Aneilema'' consists of

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicina ...

s that may be either perennial or annual. They are characterised by their

zygomorphic Floral symmetry describes whether, and how, a flower, in particular its perianth, can be divided into two or more identical or mirror-image parts. Uncommonly, flowers may have no axis of symmetry at all, typically because their parts are spiral ...

flowers which, unlike the closely related genus ''

'', usually lack a modified leaf enclosing the flower stalk at maturity. The uppermost leaf on the flowering stalk is often highly modified, however, and in a few species, such as ''

Aneilema clarkei ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'', the upper leaf does completely surround the inflorescence. The flowering stalks of ''Aneilema'' tend to be much larger than those of ''Commelina'', with some species having inflorescences of more than 25 cm in length, although some are as short as 2 cm. ; Species * ''

Aneilema acuminatum ''Aneilema acuminatum'' is a species of herbaceous plant in the family Commelinaceae. It is native to New Guinea, Maluku, Solomon Islands, Queensland, New South Wales. Its natural habitat consists of rainforest, riparian forests and moist area ...

'' R.Br. - New Guinea, Maluku, Solomon Islands, Queensland, New South Wales * ''

Aneilema aequinoctiale ''Aneilema aequinoctiale'' is a flowering shrub native to much of sub-Saharan Africa. It is sometimes referred to by its English common name, clinging aneilema, and in Yoruba, a language of West Africa, it may be referred to as ''ẹfĩajija''. ...

'' - tropical + southern Africa * ''

Aneilema alatum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' Koord. - Java * '' Aneilema angolense'' C.B.Clarke - Angola * ''

Aneilema aparine ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' H.Perrier - Madagascar * ''

Aneilema arenicola ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' Faden - KwaZulu-Natal, Mozambique * '' Aneilema benadirense'' Chiov. - Somalia * '' Aneilema beniniense'' (P.Beauv.) Kunth - tropical Africa * ''

Aneilema biflorum ''Aneilema biflorum'' is a perennial herb in the family Commelinaceae. It grows in moist and shaded places, often near streams in eastern Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign c ...

'' - Queensland, New South Wales * ''

'' C.B.Clarke - Brazil, Venezuela * '' Aneilema brenanianum'' Faden - Kenya, Tanzania * '' Aneilema brunneospermum'' Faden - Mozambique, Eswatini, South Africa * '' Aneilema calceolus'' Brenan - Kenya, Tanzania * '' Aneilema chrysopogon'' Brenan - Zambia, Tanzania * ''

'' Rendle - Kenya, Tanzania * '' Aneilema dispermum'' Brenan - Malawi, Tanzania * '' Aneilema dregeanum'' Kunth - Mozambique, Eswatini, South Africa; naturalized in Vietnam * '' Aneilema ephemerum'' Faden - Kenya * '' Aneilema forsskalii'' Kunth - Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti, Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia * '' Aneilema gillettii'' Brenan - Ethiopia, Kenya * ''

Aneilema grandibracteolatum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' Faden - Ethiopia * ''

Aneilema hirtum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' A.Rich. - eastern Africa from Ethiopia to Zambia * ''

Aneilema hockii ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' De Wild - eastern + southern Africa * ''

Aneilema homblei ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' De Wild - DRC * ''

Aneilema indehiscens ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' Faden - eastern + southern Africa * ''

Aneilema johnstonii ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, '' Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is ...

'' K.Schum. - eastern + southern Africa * ''

Aneilema lamuense ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' Faden - Kenya, Somalia * ''

Aneilema lanceolatum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' Benth. - tropical Africa * ''

Aneilema leiocaule ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' K.Schum. - eastern + central Africa * ''

Aneilema longicapsa ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, '' Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is ...

'' Faden - Somalia * ''

Aneilema longirrhizum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, '' Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is ...

'' Faden - Northern Province of South Africa * ''

Aneilema macrorrhizum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' T.C.E.Fr. - Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia * ''

Aneilema minutiflorum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, '' Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is ...

'' Faden - Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda * ''

Aneilema mortonii ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' Brenan - Ghana, Togo * ''

Aneilema neocaledonicum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' Schltr. - Vanuatu, New Caledonia * ''

Aneilema nicholsonii ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' C.B.Clarke - eastern + southern Africa * ''

Aneilema nyasense ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' C.B.Clarke - southeastern Africa * ''

Aneilema obbiadense ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' Chiov. - Somalia * ''

Aneilema paludosum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, '' Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is ...

'' A.Chev. - western Africa * ''

Aneilema pedunculosum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' C.B.Clarke - southeastern Africa * ''

Aneilema petersii ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' (Hassk.) C.B.Clarke - eastern + southeastern Africa * ''

Aneilema plagiocapsa ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' K.Schum. - DRC, Zambia, Angola * ''

Aneilema pomeridianum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, '' Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is ...

'' Stanf. & Brenan - Nigeria, Niger, Togo, Benin, Ghana * ''

Aneilema pusillum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' Chiov. - Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia * ''

Aneilema recurvatum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' Faden - Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania * ''

Aneilema rendlei ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, '' Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is ...

'' C.B.Clarke - Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania * ''

Aneilema richardsiae ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' Brenan - DRC, Zambia, Tanzania * ''

Aneilema schlechteri ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' K.Schum. - Zimbabwe, Transvaal, Eswatini * ''

Aneilema sclerocarpum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' F.Muell. - Queensland * ''

Aneilema sebitense ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' Faden - Kenya, Ethiopia * ''

Aneilema setiferum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, '' Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is ...

'' A.Chev. - western Africa * ''

Aneilema siliculosum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' R.Br. - Queensland, Northern Territory * ''

Aneilema silvaticum ''Aneilema silvaticum'' is a species of plant in the family Commelinaceae. It is found in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria.Cabezas, F.J., de la Estrella, M., Aedo, C. & Velayos, M. (2009). Checklist of Commelinaceae of ...

'' - Nigeria, Togo, Cameroon, Bioko, Zaïre * ''

Aneilema somaliense ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' C.B.Clarke - Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia * ''

Aneilema spekei ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' C.B.Clarke - eastern Africa * ''

Aneilema succulentum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' Faden - Kenya * ''

Aneilema tanaense ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' Faden - Kwale District of Kenya * ''

Aneilema taylorii ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' C.B.Clarke - Kenya, Tanzania * ''

Aneilema termitarium ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' Faden - Zaïre, Zambia, Tanzania * ''

Aneilema trispermum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' Faden - Somalia * ''

Aneilema umbrosum ''Aneilema umbrosum'' (yungas, rain, chiquitano) is a species of plant Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and in ...

'' (Vahl) Kunth - tropical Africa; tropical South America, Trinidad, Costa Rica, Panama * ''

Aneilema usambarense ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' Faden - Usambara Mountains of Tanzania * ''

Aneilema welwitschii ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' C.B.Clarke - central + southern Africa * ''

Aneilema woodii ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is the ...

'' Faden - Yemen * ''

Aneilema zebrinum ''Aneilema'' is a genus of monocotyledonous plants of approximately 60 species. The vast majority of the species are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a few are found in Oceania and one, ''Aneilema brasiliense'', is from South America. It is t ...

'' Chiov. ex Chiarugi - - Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, KwaZulu-Natal

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q1338806 Commelinales genera Taxonomy articles created by Polbot