Tradescantia crassifolia
Tradescantia ohiensis
leatherleaf spiderwort
bluejacket, Ohio spiderwort, smooth spiderwort
tuberous, thick.
unbranched or sparsely branched, arachnoid-villous.
15–115 cm;
internodes glabrous or occasionally pilose, glaucous.
2-ranked, narrowing toward shoot apex;
blade lanceolate-elliptic to ovate, 4–15 × 2–3.5 cm (distal leaf blades wider or narrower than sheaths when sheaths opened, flattened), base cordate-clasping, sparsely pilose to densely arachnoid-villous.
spirally arranged, sessile, forming acute angle with stem, arcuate;
blade linear to linear-lanceolate, 5–45 × 0.4–4.5 cm (distal leaf blades equal to or narrower than sheaths when sheaths opened, flattened), apex acuminate, glaucous, usually glabrous, sometimes pilose near sheath.
terminal, 1–4 axillary, sessile in axils of distal reduced leaves, boat-shaped spathes absent.
terminal and often axillary;
bracts foliaceous.
distinctly pedicillate;
pedicels 0.6–1.4 cm, densely arachnoid-villous;
sepals 6.5–8 mm, pilose to densely arachnoid-pubescent;
petals distinct, rose-purple to bluish, not clawed, 10–15 mm;
stamens free;
filaments bearded.
distinctly pedicillate;
pedicels 0.7–3 cm, glabrous;
sepals glaucous, 4–15 mm, glabrous or with apical tuft of eglandular hairs;
petals distinct, deep blue to rose, rarely white, broadly ovate, not clawed, 0.8–2 cm;
stamens free;
filaments bearded.
3.5–4 mm.
4–6 mm.
2 mm.
2–3 mm.
= 12, 24, 24+ (Mexico).
= 12, 24.
Tradescantia crassifolia
Tradescantia ohiensis
Although not recorded in any U.S. flora or checklist, Tradescantia crassifolia has been added to the flora based on an old collection from the Chenati Mountains in Texas. Another specimen labeled New Mexico is considered less credible.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Tradescantia ohiensis is the most common and widespread species in the United States. It hybridizes with many of the other species.
Tradescantia ohiensis var. foliosa (Small) MacRoberts has been recognized for the forms with pilose leaves and sheaths (D. T. MacRoberts 1977). I have found such plants scattered among populations of glabrous plants, and I do not consider them worthy of formal taxonomic status.
The following hybrids are known: Tradescantia ohiensis × T. gigantea, in Louisiana and Texas; T. ohiensis × T. hirsuticaulis, Arkansas; T. ohiensis × T. occidentalis, Arkansas, Louisiana; T. ohiensis × T. ozarkana, Arkansas; T. ohiensis × T. paludosa, Louisiana (reported by MacRoberts, 1980); T. ohiensis × T. roseolens, Alabama, Florida; T. ohiensis × T. subaspera, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia; and T. ohiensis × T. virginiana, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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