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Tradescantia spathacea

Sw. (1788)

This name is accepted

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

Moses in the cradle, Moses-in-the-cradle, oyster plant, rhoeo, wandering jew

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Erect rosette plant, bromeliad-like.

Stems: Stems short.

Roots: Fibrous root system.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Stiffly ascending in spiral whorls. Blades linear–lanceolate. Surfaces glabrous, upper side usually green, underside purple. Veins parallel. Sessile. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorecense, axillary, nearly sessile, many–flowered; bracts boat shaped, 0.8–1.75" ≈ 1–2.2", nearly enclosing flws; stalk downcurved in frt. flowers numerous, scarcely projecting from bracts. Flowers radially symmetrical, bisexual (perfect). Calyx of 3 sepals; sepals usually free. Corolla of 3 free petals. Stamens free 6. Ovary superior, 3-carpellate; stigma knoblike.

Fruit: Dehiscent capsules. Seeds 1 per locule.

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Accepted Subtaxa (in Hawai'i) (1)

Tradescantia spathacea ‘Concolor’

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Only found in cultivation
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Hawai'i Potentially naturalizing

Dispersal Agents

Wind

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Prodr. Veg. Ind. Occ.: 57 (1788)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1376 (noted as occurring in cult.); Staples & Herbst 2005:648 (KEY), 649 (DESCR); Frohlich & Lau 2010:10 (NEWNAT/O, DESCR); Frohlich & Lau 2012:33 (K)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Tradescantia spathacea Mokuleia Planted. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 11561 Oahu BISH 1937-06-01
2 Tradescantia spathacea Kalaheo, on Papalina Rd. near Palama St. Lowland dry/mesic roadside area, growing on fallen log. Preserved_Specimen Herb with purple undersides of leaves. OED 2010021906 Kauai BISH 2010-02-19
3 Tradescantia spathacea Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Growing near parking lot. Exotic vegetation. Area highly modified by ancient Polynesians. Preserved_Specimen Lower leaf surface purple, upper green. Higashino, P.K. 10300 Hawaii BISH 1984-04-08
4 Tradescantia spathacea Kulu'i Gulch, 20 meters west of strem bottom Kukui, Pisonia sandwicensis, Schinus terebinthifolius overstory; Asparagus sp., Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, Oplismenus hirtellus understory Preserved_Specimen Groung cover about 30 cm tall. OISC 2012080301 Oahu BISH 2012-08-08
5 Tradescantia spathacea Honolulu; Lyon Arboretum, Cottage E Growing best in semi-shade. Preserved_Specimen A rosette plant with leves green above and reddish-purple beneath. Flowers are white and short lived. Spence, G. 399 Oahu BISH 1976-09-01
6 Tradescantia spathacea Honolulu: Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus, Courtyard of St. John Hall In heavy shade underneath a tree. Preserved_Specimen Flowers white; fragrance: none (late morning). Undersides of leaf purple. Lau, J. 1275 Oahu BISH 1985-07-29
7 Tradescantia spathacea Lihue District; Hanamaulu, Kalepa Mountain Trail; In the area about 300x200 ft, mauka of the cemetery and makai of the water tank and to the NE of cement Hulei road Disturbed lowland Casuarina forest w/ Casuarina equisetifolia, Megathyrus maximus, Psidium cattleianum, Leucaena leucocephala, Stachytarpheta, Schinus terebinthifolius, Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, Thevetia peruviana, Cinnamomum burmann Preserved_Specimen Leaves green above and purple below, flowers white; eedlings and juveniles; likely escaped from graveyard below, forming dense thickets along the ground. Tangalin, N. 5161 Kauai BISH 2021-04-07
8 Tradescantia spathacea Honolulu: Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus, Courtyard of St. John Hall In heavy shade underneath a tree. Preserved_Specimen Flowers white; fragrance: none (late morning). Undersides of leaf purple. Lau, J. 1275 Oahu BISH 1985-07-29
9 Tradescantia spathacea Honolulu; Bishop Museum grounds Preserved_Specimen Egler, F.E. 37171 Oahu BISH 1937-05-25
10 Tradescantia spathacea Honolulu; Bishop Museum grounds Preserved_Specimen Leaves green above, rose-purple below; flowers white, in boat-shaped bracts. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1954-03-30
11 Tradescantia spathacea Makiki- UTM 2357383 620318 Growing in sewer drain with Spathodea. Preserved_Specimen Scraggly, etiolated herb about.5 meters tall. No flowers or fruit. OED 2008090401 Oahu BISH 2008-09-04
12 Tradescantia spathacea Honolulu; Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. Oahu BISH 1962-04-05
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