Tradescantia crassifolia
Tradescantia spathacea
leatherleaf spiderwort
boat-lily, moses-in-the-cradle, oyster-plant
tuberous, thick.
unbranched or sparsely branched, arachnoid-villous.
unbranched, short.
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;
blade usually abaxially purple, adaxially green, strap-shaped, to 35 × 5 cm (distal leaf blades wider or narrower than sheaths when sheaths opened, flattened), leathery, succulent, glabrous.
terminal, 1–4 axillary, sessile in axils of distal reduced leaves, boat-shaped spathes absent.
axillary, sessile, or pedunculate in axils well below shoot apex, cymes enclosed in pairs of boat-shaped spathes.
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 glabrous;
sepals distinct, white, 3–6 mm, glabrous;
petals distinct, white, ovate, not clawed;
stamens free;
filaments bearded.
3.5–4 mm.
3- or (by abortion) 2-locular, 3–4 mm.
2 mm.
1 per locule, 3–4 mm.
= 12, 24, 24+ (Mexico).
= 12 (Belize).
Tradescantia crassifolia
Tradescantia spathacea
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 spathacea is native to southern Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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