Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COM'ME-LINE, n.

A word proposed to be, but not actually used, as a popular name of a genus of herbaceous plants, Commelina, natives of warm climates. This name was given to this genus by Linnæus, in honor of the Commelins, distinguished botanists of Holland. These plants have flowers with three petals, two large and one small; the large petals representing John and Gaspard Commelin, who published catalogues of plants; the smaller petal representing another of the name who published nothing. – Gloss. de Botanique, De Theis.