Herbs, annual (sometimes perennial in south), diffusely spreading, rooting at nodes. Leaves: blade lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, lanceolate-elliptic or ovate, 1.5--5(--8) cm, 0.5--1.8(--2.2) cm, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences: proximal cyme 2--4-flowered, distal cyme of larger spathes usually exserted, 1--several-flowered; spathes solitary, pedunculate, usually distinctly falcate, (0.5--)0.8--2.5(--3.7) ´ 0.4--1.2(--1.4) cm, apex usually acuminate; peduncles 0.5--2(--2.9) cm. Flowers blue (rarely lavender); medial stamen anther connective with broad, transverse band of violet. Capsules 3-locular, 2-valved, 4--6.3 ´ (2.1--)3--4 mm. Seeds 5, brown, 2--2.8(--3.2) mm ´ 1.4--1.8 mm, deeply reticulate. 2n = 30. Flowering spring--fall. Disturbed situations (lawns, gardens, and cultivated ground), moist places, and woods; introduced; Ala., Ark., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.C., Ohio, Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va.; pantropical. The report of this plant from Minnesota (H. A. Gleason and A. Cronquist 1991) is probably based on wrongly determined material.