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Tradescantia zebrina

Bosse (1849)

This name is accepted

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

honohono ‘ula [honohono ula], wandering jew

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Accepted Subtaxa (in Hawai'i) (1)

Tradescantia zebrina var. zebrina

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

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

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Vollst. Handb. Blumengärt., ed. 4: 655 (1849)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1376 (noted as occasional escape); Lorence & Flynn 1997:10 (NEWNAT/K, DESCR); Oppenheimer & Bartlett 2000:4 (WM); Starr et al. 2004:21 (EM); Staples & Herbst 2005:648 (KEY), 649 (DESCR); Oppenheimer 2007:22 (Mo)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Tradescantia zebrina Honolulu, Lyon Arboretum, Cottage E. Preserved_Specimen Ground cover at Cottage E. Leaves ovate to oblong, reddish purple beneath; above silver with purple band down center and along edges. Flowers a rose-purple color. Spence, G. 372 Oahu BISH 1976-05-20
2 Tradescantia zebrina Koloa District, Lawai valley above NTBG, along Lawai stream above waterfall & near convergence of 2 streams, old rock terraces suggesting old home site Secondary vegetation of Hibiscus tiliaceus, Samanea saman, Kukui, Epipremnum pinnatum & some remnant plantings. Naturalized, covering ground over large areas. Preserved_Specimen Trailing herb, stems & lvs fleshy, lvs adaxially w/2 silvery-white bands on purple background, purple beneath. Flowers ephemeral, petals purplish-pink, purple-tinged, tepals deep rose, slightly zygomorphic. Lorence, D.H. 7743 Kauai BISH 1995-12-30
3 Tradescantia zebrina Kapalama Hts., Kamehameha Girls' School Preserved_Specimen Judd Jr., A.F. Oahu BISH 1932-06-06
4 Tradescantia zebrina P.T.B.G., Lawai Valley Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 2332 Kauai BISH 1972-01-26
5 Tradescantia zebrina Kaaawa, the residence of Ted Green, 51-404 Maumauluukaa In an area that receives full sun for part of the day, shaded for the remainder. Preserved_Specimen A prostrate herb utilized as a groundcover; leaf topside medium green with silvery green zones away from the midrib and margin. Leaf underside has a purple overlay. Flower magenta. Lau, J. 1924 Oahu BISH 1986-01-26
6 Tradescantia zebrina W Maui, Lahaina District, Honolua Bay, between shoreline and Honoapiilani Hwy Growing in secondary forest, spreading vegetatively and covering large areas. Preserved_Specimen Flowers purple, leaves purple on lower surface, upper surface green with a light band on each side of midrib. Oppenheimer, H.L. 99903 Maui BISH 1999-09-05
7 Tradescantia zebrina Kalae Spreading from discarded yard waste into Casuarina thicket. Preserved_Specimen Stems succulent, trailing, rooting at nodes; leaves purple on abaxial surface, green with 2 grayish stripes on each side of midrib on adaxial surface. Oppenheimer, H.L. 110607 Molokai BISH 2006-11-02
8 Tradescantia zebrina Honolulu, University Ave. near Kaala W. Cultivated, trailing over dry stone bank Preserved_Specimen Creeping, erect at ends. Leaves striped with purplish red. Flowers pink. Fosberg, F.R. 8824 Oahu BISH 1932-09-15
9 Tradescantia zebrina Honolulu, Makiki Steep slope in shade of dense Leucaena glauca forest around rubbish dump. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate; leaves striped above, purple beneath; fair-sized, well-established colony. Fosberg, F.R. 27146 Oahu BISH 1946-10-18
10 Tradescantia zebrina Honolulu, University Campus Cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Plant prostrate; ls. Puple; fls. magenta, evanescent. Fosberg, F.R. 10999 Oahu BISH 1935-07-01
11 Tradescantia zebrina near 1926 flow damp, shaded roadside Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2112 Hawaii BISH 1926-07-25
12 Tradescantia zebrina W Maui, Lahaina District, Honokahua Valley, E slope Growing on steep, shady slopes and wet rock faces near a spring. Vegetation: Degraded Metrosideros/Diospyros Mesic Forest. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 70085 Maui BISH 2000-07-11
13 Tradescantia zebrina East Maui, Makawao, near town, Brewer Rd Climbing steep, weedy bank. Associated vegetation: Anredera cordifolia, bamboo. Preserved_Specimen Herb; foliage purple/silver; flowers pink/red. No fruits seen. Starr, F. 110231 Maui BISH 2001-10-23
14 Tradescantia zebrina Honolulu, University Campus Cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Plant prostrate, leaves purple, flowers magenta, evanescent. Fosberg, F.R. 10999 Oahu BISH 1935-07-01
15 Tradescantia zebrina Honolulu, Lyon Arboretum Preserved_Specimen Trailing herb with rose-purple flowers. Foliage fleshy, red-purple beneath, silvery with purple band down middle and edges above. Herbst, D.R. 5809 Oahu BISH 1976-04-04
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