img

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, oyster plant, rhoeo, wandering jew

img

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

img

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 Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. Kulu'i Gulch, 20 meters west of strem bottom Kukui, Pisonia sandwicensis, Schinus terebinthifolius overstory; Asparagus sp., Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, Oplismenus hirtellus understory PRESERVED_SPECIMEN OISC 2012080301 Oahu BISH 8/8/2012
2 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. honolulu; bishop museum grounds PRESERVED_SPECIMEN neal, m.c. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 3/30/1954
3 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. honolulu; lyon arboretum, cottage e Growing best in semi-shade. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN spence, g. collector number: 399 Oahu BISH 9/1/1976
4 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. makiki- utm 2357383 620318 Growing in sewer drain with Spathodea. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oed frohlich, d.; lau, a. collector number: 2008090401 Oahu BISH 9/4/2008
5 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. Sand Island, 4211 Commodore Ave. yard; Rosa, Plumeria rubra PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Starr, F. 080607-17 Midway Atoll BISH 6/7/2008
6 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. koloa district, lawai valley. cultivated lawai-kai PRESERVED_SPECIMEN flynn, t. collector number: 3333 Kauai BISH 4/19/1989
7 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. Kalaheo, on Papalina Rd. near Palama St. Lowland dry/mesic roadside area, growing on fallen log. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN OED 2010021906 Kauai BISH 2/19/2010
8 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. honolulu; manoa valley; university of hawaii manoa campus PRESERVED_SPECIMEN krajina, v.j. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 4/5/1962
9 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. mokuleia PRESERVED_SPECIMEN degener, o. collector number: 11561 Kauai US 6/1/1937
10 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. Kalaheo, on Papalina Rd. near Palama St. Lowland dry/mesic roadside area, growing on fallen log. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oahu Early Detection 2010021906 Kauai PTBG 2/19/2010
11 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. 4211 Commodore Ave., in yard. Cultivated. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forest Starr Starr-080607-17 Oahu PTBG 6/7/2008
12 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. puuhonua o honaunau national historical park PRESERVED_SPECIMEN higashino, p.k. stemmermann, r.l.; allen, m.s. collector number: 10300 GSW 4/8/1984
13 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. mokuleia, oahu, territory of hawaii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener 11561 NY 6/7/1937
14 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. Lawai Valley. Plant of Lawai-Kai. Cultivated. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 3333 Kauai PTBG 4/19/1989
15 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. honolulu Semi-shaded area PRESERVED_SPECIMEN g. spence 399 Maui US
16 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. Honolulu; Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Krajina, V.J. s.n. Oahu BISH 4/5/1962
17 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. Honolulu: Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus, Courtyard of St. John Hall In heavy shade underneath a tree. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lau, J. 1275 Oahu BISH 7/29/1985
18 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Growing near parking lot. Exotic vegetation. Area highly modified by ancient Polynesians. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Higashino, P.K. 10300 Hawaii BISH 4/8/1984
19 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. Honolulu; Bishop Museum grounds PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Egler, F.E. 37-171 Oahu BISH 5/25/1937
20 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. Honolulu; Bishop Museum grounds PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Neal, M.C. s.n. Oahu BISH 3/30/1954
21 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. Honolulu; Lyon Arboretum, Cottage E Growing best in semi-shade. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Spence, G. 399 Oahu BISH 9/1/1976
22 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. honolulu: manoa valley; university of hawaii manoa campus, courtyard of st. john hall In heavy shade underneath a tree. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN lau, j. collector number: 1275 Oahu BISH 7/29/1985
23 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. Makiki- UTM 2357383 620318 Growing in sewer drain with Spathodea. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN OED 2008090401 Oahu BISH 9/4/2008
24 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. sand island, 4211 commodore ave. yard; Rosa, Plumeria rubra PRESERVED_SPECIMEN starr, f. starr, k. collector number: 080607-17 Midway Atoll BISH 6/7/2008
25 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. kalaheo, on papalina rd. near palama st. Lowland dry/mesic roadside area, growing on fallen log. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oed collector number: 2010021906 Kauai BISH 2/19/2010
26 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. kulu'i gulch, 20 meters west of strem bottom Kukui, Pisonia sandwicensis, Schinus terebinthifolius overstory; Asparagus sp., Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, Oplismenus hirtellus understory PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oisc collector number: 2012080301 Oahu BISH 8/8/2012
27 Tradescantia spathacea Sw. honolulu; bishop museum grounds Slopes consisting of talus rubble, under kukui canopy. Local concentration growing by Cyrtandra coll. Koolau 380, field no. Koolau 383c. PRC 885 PRESERVED_SPECIMEN egler, f.e. collector number: 37-171 Oahu BISH 5/25/1937
Back to Top