Commelinales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Commelinales Temporal range: Late Cretaceous - Recent
Tradescantia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Commelinales Dumort.
Families
See text

Commelinales is a group of flowering plants. Scientists call this group an "order" in the plant kingdom. These plants are part of a larger group called monocots, which are plants that have one seed leaf when they sprout.

Scientists believe that Commelinales and another plant order called Zingiberales first appeared a very long time ago. This was during the Late Cretaceous period, about 80 million years ago. Some well-known plants in this group include Commelina and Tradescantia. You might also hear this plant order called Haemodorales.

What are Commelinales?

The Commelinales order includes several important plant families. These families share similar features that group them together. They are:

• Commelinaceae
• Haemodoraceae
• Hanguanaceae
• Phylidraceae
• Pondteriaceae

Where do they grow?

Plants from the Commelinales order can be found in many parts of the world. They often grow in warm, tropical, and subtropical regions. Some species prefer wet or marshy areas, while others can live in drier spots.

Interesting plants in this group

One common plant in this order is Tradescantia, also known as spiderwort. Many people grow different types of Tradescantia as houseplants or in gardens because of their pretty leaves and flowers. Another important group is Commelina, often called dayflowers. These plants are known for their unique blue flowers that usually last only one day.