Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan belongs to the Commelinaceae (dayflower) family. It is a small, prostrate herbaceous plant—annual or sometimes short-lived perennial—that spreads via creeping, rooting stems. Its leaves are simple, alternate, lanceolate to linear, while the flowers are diminutive with three petals, often blue to purple in hue RSPGWeedID ProjectAyurWikiPOWO. Reproduction occurs both by seed and vegetatively, with stoloniferous stems capable of producing new plants from fragments Wiktrop. Phytochemical screenings have identified multiple compounds including flavonoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, coumarins, organic acids, sterols, and carotenes VNU Journal of ScienceStuartXchange.
Where does Murdannia nudiflora grow?
Native Range
M. nudiflora is native to tropical and subtropical Asia and Oceania—including regions such as India, Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines), China, the Himalayas, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia and Australia StuartXchangePOWO.
Introduced and Widespread
The species has been introduced and naturalized across
global tropics and subtropics, including parts of the Americas (e.g., Brazil,
Mexico, US Southern states, Caribbean), Africa, Pacific Islands, and more POWO.
Preferred Habitats
This adaptable species thrives in moist or waterlogged
environments—such as marshes, rice paddies, ditches, wet lawns, garden margins,
and shady stream banks. It also tolerates both sun and shade and occurs from
sea level up to about 1,800 m
altitude WiktropWeedID ProjectEdible PlantsPOWO. In cultivated areas, it often emerges in irrigated
rice fields and moist disturbed habitats WiktropWeedID Project.
How does Murdannia nudiflora benefit humans,
animals, and the environment?
Benefits to Humans
- Edibility:
Young leaves and shoots are consumed as wild vegetables—used in soups or
as potherbs in countries such as Vietnam, India, and China. Cooking is
advised due to oxalate content StuartXchangeEdible Plants.
- Traditional
Medicine: Employed in folkloric remedies across its range:
- Used
for asthma, leprosy, gastrointestinal issues, giddiness, and as a topical
astringent. In the Philippines, root paste with goat milk was applied for
asthma; leaf pastes were used for wounds and burns StuartXchangeRSPG.
- In
Indochina and Taiwan, used as antipyretic (fever-reducing),
anti-inflammatory, and for various ailments including dysentery and
urinary conditions RSPG.
- Pharmacological
Potential: Modern studies indicate promising biological activity:
- Analgesic:
Extracts show significant pain-relieving effects in animal models,
comparable to standard drugs StuartXchange.
- Antioxidant
& Cytotoxic: Demonstrated high radical-scavenging activity;
moderate lethality in brine shrimp assays suggesting potential
cytotoxicity StuartXchange.
- Anti-inflammatory,
Hepato‑protective, Anticancer: Indicated in recent morphological and
phytochemical studies on Vietnamese specimens VNU Journal of Science.
- Animal
Fodder: Sometimes used as livestock feed, reducing its abundance in
cultivated settings StuartXchangePlantwise Plus Knowledge Bank.
Benefits to Animals & Ecosystems
- Pollinator
Support: Its flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies,
enriching local biodiversity Plantiary - Plant Identifier.
- Ground
Cover & Ecosystem Function: Dense mats stabilize soil and provide
habitat for small organisms Plantiary - Plant Identifier.
- Nutrition
for Grazers: Grazing by animals can suppress its growth, while serving
as a food source Plantwise Plus Knowledge Bank.
Ecological Considerations
Despite its benefits, M. nudiflora is considered a
serious agricultural weed:
- Listed
among the world’s worst weeds, affecting numerous crops across many
countries StuartXchangeWiktrop.
- In
Indonesia and other regions, it's a major weed in peanut, rice, tea,
maize, and cotton fields, thriving especially on temporarily flooded or
hydromorphic soils StuartXchangeWiktropWeedID Project.
- Hosts
several crop pathogens: Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium arrhenomanes,
nematodes (Pratylenchus, Meloidogyne spp.), and viruses
affecting vegetables Wiktrop.
Management Strategies
Effective control is crucial in agricultural contexts:
- Cultural:
Burning crop residue, manual weeding, grazing, and crop rotation are
practiced to reduce infestations Plantwise Plus Knowledge BankWeedID Project.
- Mechanical:
Hoeing, hand-weeding, and cutting with tools like machetes are common Plantwise Plus Knowledge BankWeedID Project.
- Chemical:
Herbicides such as bentazone (post-emergence) and metribuzin
(pre-emergence) are used; effectiveness varies by region and crop WeedID ProjectPlantwise Plus Knowledge Bank.
- Integrated
Management: A combination of manual, cultural, chemical, and grazing
methods is often most effective Plantwise Plus Knowledge Bank.
- Environmental
Responses: Research shows growth is favored by higher soil moisture
and moderate nitrogen; mowing height and light levels also influence
spread Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
Conclusion
Murdannia nudiflora is a small but significant plant
with a dual nature. Native to tropical and subtropical Asia and Oceania, it has
spread globally due to its adaptability. It provides edible and medicinal
value, ecological functions like pollinator support and soil stabilization, and
even fodder opportunities. Yet, its status as a persistent and competitive
agricultural weed, along with its role as a host for pathogens, highlights the
importance of balanced management strategies that both harness its benefits and
mitigate its risks.
📚 References
- Plants
of the World Online (POWO) – Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:172873-1 - StuartXchange
(Philippines Ethnobotany Database)
Kolasi – Murdannia nudiflora
https://stuartxchange.org/Kolasi - RSPG
Thailand – The Plant Database of the Royal Initiative Project
Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan
https://www.rspg.or.th/plants_data/plantdat/commelin/mnudif_1.htm - Weed
ID Cambodian Blog – Weed Identification Resource
Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan
https://weedidcambodian.wordpress.com/murdannia-nudiflora-l-brenan - WikTrop
Portal – Tropical Plant Database
Murdannia nudiflora
https://portal.wiktrop.org/species/show/632 - VNU
Journal of Science: Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Article: "Phytochemical Screening and Evaluation of the Biological Activities of Murdannia nudiflora"
https://js.vnu.edu.vn/MPS/article/view/4732 - PlantwisePlus
Knowledge Bank – CABI
Species Datasheet: Murdannia nudiflora (doveweed)
https://plantwiseplusknowledgebank.org/doi/10.1079/PWKB.Species.35180 - Edible
Wild Plants Database
Entry: Day Flower / Bird’s Foot Grass – Murdannia nudiflora
https://www.edibleplants.net/plants/day-flower-birds-foot-grass - Cambridge
University Press – Weed Science Journal
Doveweed (Murdannia nudiflora) response to environmental resource availability and cultural practices
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/weed-science/article/abs/doveweed-murdannia-nudiflora-response-to-environmental-resource-availability-and-cultural-practices
