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'''''Tradescantia''''' ({{pron-en|ˌtrædɨˈskæntiə}}),<ref>''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607</ref> the '''Spiderworts''', is a genus of an estimated 71 species of [[perennial plant]]s in the family [[Commelinaceae]], native to the [[New World]] from southern [[Canada]] south to northern [[Argentina]]. They are weakly upright to scrambling plants, growing to 30–60 cm tall, and are commonly found individually or in clumps in wooded areas and fields. The [[leaf|leaves]] are long, thin and bladelike to lanceolate, from 3–45 cm long. The [[flower]]s are white, pink or purple but most commonly bright blue, with three [[petal]]s and six yellow [[anther]]s. The sap is [[Mucilage|mucilaginous]] and clear. A number of the species flower in the morning and when the sun shines on the flowers in the afternoon they close up, but the flowers can remain open on cloudy days until evening. Though sometimes accounted as a [[weed]], spiderwort is cultivated for borders and also used in containers. Where it appears as a volunteer, it is often welcomed and allowed to stay. The first species described, [[Tradescantia virginiana|Virginia Spiderwort]] ''T. virginiana'', is native to the [[eastern United States]] from [[Maine]] to [[Alabama]], and Canada in southern [[Ontario]]. Virginia Spiderwort was introduced to [[Europe]] in 1629, where it is cultivated as a garden flower. The [[Tradescantia occidentalis|Western Spiderwort]] ''T. occidentalis'' is listed as an [[endangered species]] in Canada, where the northernmost populations of the species are found at a few sites in southern [[Saskatchewan]], [[Manitoba]] and [[Alberta]]; it is however more common further south in the United States south to [[Texas]] and [[Arizona]]. The three species of [[Wandering Jew (disambiguation)#Plants|Wandering Jew]], one native to eastern [[Mexico]], also belong to the ''Tradescantia'' genus. Other names used for various species include Spider-lily, Cradle-lily, Oyster-plant and Flowering Inch Plant. The generic name honours the [[Kingdom of England|English]] naturalists [[John Tradescant the Elder]] (ca. 1570-1638) and [[John Tradescant the Younger]] (1608-1662).<ref>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=zIOvJSJs-IkC |first=Umberto |last=Quattrocchi |title=CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology |volume=IV R-Z |year=2000 |publisher=Taylor & Francis US |isbn=9780849326783 |page=2697}}</ref> {{Inc| Zebrina (name refers to the striped leaves). Commelinaceae. One of the species, the wandering Jew, is a very common greenhouse plant, much used for baskets and for covering the ground underneath benches. Differs from Tradescantia chiefly in the fact that the corolla is tubular (petals not free); stamens 6, equal; fls. few, sessile, in 2 conduplicate bracts.—Two species, Mex. and Texas. }} {{Inc| Tradescantia (named for John Tradescant, gardener to Charles I; died about 1638). Commelinaceae. Spiderwort. Perennial hardy herbs, varying greatly in habit from erect and bushy to trailing and rooting at the nodes, grown for their ornamental value both out-of-doors and in the greenhouse. Stems simple or diffusely branched: lvs. various: cymes simple, sometimes umbellate or densely paniculate: fls. more or less pedicelled, few or numerous, rarely solitary, red, blue, or white; sepals distinct, concave, green or colored; petals distinct, obovate or orbicular; stamens 6, all usually perfect; ovary 3-celled with 2 superposed ovules: caps. loculicidally dehiscent.— About 90 species, all American, ranging from Manitoba to Argentina. The genus was monographed in 1881 by C. B. Clarke (DC. Monogr. Phaner. 3). The genus Zebrina, usually confounded with this by gardeners, differs, among other things, in having a tubular perianth. To horticulturists, tradescantias are known as hardy herbs, coolhouse plants, and warmhouse plants. T. virginiana is the best known of the hardy species, withstanding the climate of the northern states. The wandering Jew of greenhouses and hanging-baskets, usually known as T. tricolor, is partly T. fluminensis and partly Zebrina pendula. T. Reginae is perhaps the best known warmhouse species at present, although various species may be expected in botanic gardens and the collections of amateurs. The glasshouse species are essentially foliage plants. Several species have handsomely striped leaves. All tradescantias are free growers, propagating with ease from cuttings of the growing shoots. T. aureo-striata, Hort., is offered in the trade as a form with green lvs. striped with yellow.—T. bengalensis, Hort., occurs in the trade, having small, red, fleshy lvs. and blue fls.—T. crassifolia, Cav. (T. iridescens, Lindl.). Something like T. virginiana, but lvs. short and broad, oblong-ovate, ciliate, as also the st.: fls. 1 1/2 in. across, blue-purple, in terminal and axillary sessile umbels, the stamens all equal. Mex. B.M. 1598. G.W. 7, p. 91.—T. Crassula, Link & Otto. Somewhat succulent, ascending: lvs. thick, oblong and nearly or quite obtuse, glabrous except on the edges: fls. about 1/4 – 1/2 in. across, white, in terminal and lateral often stalked umbels, the calyx and pedicels hairy. Brazil. B.M. 2935. L.B.C. 10:1560. —T. decora, Bull. Foliage plant: lvs. long-lanceolate, dark olive-green, with a central gray band. Brazil.—T. discolor is Rhoeo discolor, which see.—T. dracaenaefolia. "A noble and rapid-growing plant, with luxuriant and handsome foliage. The lvs. in many respects resemble a dracaena and are a deep green, marked with chocolate or black. . . . When fully grown the plant will send out long runners, bearing out tufts of lvs. at the end." John Lewis Childs, catalogue 1900.—T. laekenensis, Hort., is offered in the trade as a form with green and pink lvs. —T. lanceolata, Hort., is offered in the trade as having large, green, downy lvs.—T. multicolor, Hort. See Zebrina.—T. quadricolor, Hort. See Zebrina,—T. spathacea, Swartz., equals Rhoeo discolor.—T. superba, Lind. & Rod., has oval-oblong acuminate, sessile lvs., which are dark metallic green with a white band on either side of midrib and are purple beneath. Peru. I.H. 39:155: 40:173, Fig 6. Gt. 40, p. 163. Perhaps not a Tradescantia.—T. thuringia, Hort., is said to have green-and-white lvs.; offered in the trade.—T. variegata, Hort., is Rhoeo discolor var. vittata.—T. versicolor, Salisb., is Rhoeo discolor.—T. vulgaris, Hort., occurs in the trade.—T. zebrina, Hort., is Zebrina pendula. {{SCH}} }} ==Cultivation== {{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line --> ===Propagation=== {{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line --> ===Pests and diseases=== {{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line --> ==Species== About 70, including{{wp}}:<br> ''[[Tradescantia bracteata]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia brevifolia]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia buckleyi]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia cerinthoides]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia crassifolia]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia crassula]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia edwardsiana]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia ernestiana]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia fluminensis]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia gigantea]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia hirsuticaulis]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia hirsutiflora]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia humilis]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia iridescens]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia leiandra]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia longipes]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia navicularis]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia occidentalis]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia ohiensis]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia ozarkana]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia pallida]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia paludosa]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia pedicellata]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia pinetorum]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia roseolens]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia reverchonii]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia sillamontana]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia spathacea]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia subacaulis]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia subaspera]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia tepoxtlana]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia tharpii]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia virginiana]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia wrightii]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia zanonia]]''<br> ''[[Tradescantia zebrina]]'' synonyms = ''Setcreasea''<br/> ''Zebrina'' ==Gallery== <gallery> Image:FlyingBugPollinating-Oct15-lighter-cleaner.jpg|[[Hoverfly]] at ''Tradescantia'' flower; note the blue stamen hairs Image:PurpHeart1.jpg|Front view of leaves of ''[[Tradescantia pallida]]'' cv. "Purple Heart". Image:PurpHeart2.jpg|Back view of leaves of ''Tradescantia pallida'' cv. "Purple Heart". Image:Zebrina1.jpg|Front view of leaves of ''Tradescantia zebrina'' cv. "Tricolor". Image:Zebrina2.jpg|Back view of leaves of ''Tradescantia zebrina'' cv. "Tricolor". Image:Tradescantia ohiensis Ohio Spiderwort MN 2007.JPG|''Tradescantia ohiensis'' Ohio Spiderwort Image:Tradescantia ohiensis2.jpg|''Tradescantia ohiensis'' flowers Image:Smithsoniangardens15.jpg|A budding ''Tradescantia'' flower </gallery> ==References== *[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963 <!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 --> <!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 --> <!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 --> ==External links== *{{wplink}} __NOTOC__
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