Greek kyanos – blue and otis – ears; referring to the petals.

Erect or trailing perennial herb, rootstock often tuberous. Flowers in axillary cymes with leaf-like bracts. Sepals free or fused basally. Petals free or joined to the anthers, blue, pink or white. Stamens 6, hairy. Fruit a dry dehiscent capsule.

Grown for the attractive foliage.

Cuttings.

Axillary cymes subtended by leaf-like linear bracts.

About 30 species from the Old World tropics.

Source: Conran, J. (2005). Commelinaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.