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Tradescantia fluminensis

Vell. (1829)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Commelinales Family: Commelinaceae Genus: Tradescantia

green wandering jew, variegated wandering jew, white flowered wandering jew

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Herbs, decumbent, rooting at nodes.

Stems: Stems sprawling.

Roots: Fibrous root system.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate, 2-ranked. Blades lanceolate–elliptic to ovate–lanceolate. Apex acute. Base rounded, sessile. Surfaces glabrous. Margins entire, ciliolate. Veins parallel. Sessile. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences terminal, becoming leaf–opposed, sometimes axillary from distalmost leaf axil, 1–2 cyme pairs per stem; bracts mostly foliaceous, occasionally reduced. Flowers radially symmetrical, bisexual (perfect); distinctly pedicillate; pedicels 1–1.5 cm, glandular–pilose. Calyx of 3 sepals; sepals 5–7 mm, midrib pilose with eglandular hairs. Corolla of 3 petals, petals distinct, white, not clawed, 8–9 mm. Stamens free, 6; filaments white, densely bearded with white hairs. Ovary superior, 3-carpellate; stigma knoblike.

Fruit: Dehiscent capsules. Seeds 2 per locule.

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Other Animals

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Specimens

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Bibliography

Name Published In: Fl. Flumin. 3: 140, t. 152 (1829)

Other References

Staples & Herbst 2005:648 (KEY), 650 (DESCR); Staples et al. 2006:6 (NEWNAT/EM, H, DESCR)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Tradescantia fluminensis North Kohala District, Bond Historical Dist. E of Kapaau, adjacent to Pali Akamoa Gulch On border of disturbed forest adjacent to Kohala Girl's School. Ground cover under mango trees with shiny, dark green foliage. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 9948 Hawaii BISH 1999-09-01
2 Tradescantia fluminensis Kamuela Town; along moist, shaded banks of Waikoloa Stream near the Waimea-Kawaihae Road bridge Sparingly naturalized along the stream banks. Preserved_Specimen Herb with white flowers. Herbst, D.R. 9877 Hawaii BISH 2000-05-23
3 Tradescantia fluminensis Honolulu; Cultivated at 42 Coelho Way In shade with basket grass. Preserved_Specimen Leaves green now; when planted, all leaves light-striped (still a few striped); no flowers formed. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1961-07-04
4 Tradescantia fluminensis East Maui, Makawao District, Puu Mahoe Preserved_Specimen Sprawling herbs forming dense mats; flowers white. Oppenheimer, H.L. 40202 Maui BISH 2002-04-06
5 Tradescantia fluminensis Koloa District; Allerton Gardens in Lawai Valley, E end of Mermaid Fountain area Preserved_Specimen Perennial herb; lvs fleshy, uniformly bright green; flwr white, faintly fragrant (8.30 a.m.). Lorence, D.H. 7660 Kauai BISH 1995-04-25
6 Tradescantia fluminensis Honolulu; Foster Gardens Preserved_Specimen One specimen with green leaves, one with leaves striped green and white. Potter, C. Oahu BISH 1959-10-14
7 Tradescantia fluminensis East Maui, Makawao District, Makawao, east side of Kailua Gulch. Preserved_Specimen Weed in yard. Duvall, F. Maui BISH 2011-02-18
8 Tradescantia fluminensis Honolulu; Foster Gardens Preserved_Specimen One specimen with green leaves, one with leaves striped green and white. Potter, C. Oahu BISH 1959-10-14
9 Tradescantia fluminensis Honolulu; Foster Gardens Preserved_Specimen One specimen with green leaves, one with leaves striped less green than white. Potter, C. Oahu BISH 1959-10-14
10 Tradescantia fluminensis Waiakea; South Hilo District; Josephine Lane Preserved_Specimen Plant trailing. Leaves variegated green and white. Hirose, H. Hawaii BISH 1949-12-24
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