PLANTS Profile for Tradescantia occidentalis (prairie spiderwort)
Tradescantia occidentalis (Britt.) Smyth occures in the following states: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming
View 9 genera in Commelinaceae, 33 species in Tradescantia or click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles.
The Wandering Jew (Tradescantia pallida, synonym Setcreasea purpurea) is a species of spiderwort native to eastern Mexico, from Tamaulipas to Yucatan.
It is an invasive weed in native bush areas and is consided a noxious weed or pest plant that landowners are responsible for eradicating because Tradescantia is distinct in its ability to colonise low-light areas.
While Tradescantia will respond to herbicides and other applied weed controls, as each piece of stem has the ability to regenerate Tradescantia is able to make a rapid come-back, especially in soft soils where regenerating stems maybe under the surface.
The stamen hairs of Tradescantia plants are known to be especially sensitive to radiation, and have therefore found applications in nuclear research, including zero-gravity experiments.
Tradescantia ohiensis alba is the variety with white petals.
Tradescantia ohiensis on field guide to the prairie.
Name - Tradescantia is taken from a John Tradescant the younger, gardener to King Charles I. The fluminensis type is commonly called Wandering Jew or inch plant.
Tradescantia fluminensis 'Quadricolour' has white, green, pink and yellow small, oval striped leaves.
Care Tips - Tradescantia is essentially a creeping perennial that grows fast in the tropical climate of South America.
Digital Flora of Texas Vascular Plant Image Library query results: Tradescantia(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-05)
Commelinaceae: Tradescantia gigantea - Detail of hairs on sepals: eglandular-velutinous from TAMU 008069 from Mason County, Texas - photo by Amanda Cemper (TAMU Botany 485, Spring 2003)
Commelinaceae: Tradescantia gigantea - Detail of roots from TAMU 008069 from Mason County, Texas - photo by Amanda Cemper (TAMU Botany 485, Spring 2003)
Tradescantia ernestiana Woodland Spiderwort is a small showy wildflower perfect for the spring shade garden.
The map below shows areas where native Tradescantia ernestiana woodland spiderwort wildflower plants grow wild, it can be grown over most of the Midwest and Eastern US.
Native Tradescantia ernestiana woodland spiderwort plant distribution map complements of USDA, NRCS.
Spiderwort (Tradescantia) is a genus of an estimated 71 species of perennial plants in the family Commelinaceae, native to the New World from southern Canada south to northern Argentina.
They are scrambling plants, growing to 30-60 cm tall, and are commonly found individually or in clumps in wooded areas and fields.
Front view of leaves from the Tradescantia pallida (Spiderwort Pallida) plant.
