Tradescantia ernestiana
Tradescantia crassifolia
Ernest's spiderwort
leatherleaf spiderwort
(1–)1.5–5 mm thick, fleshy.
tuberous, thick.
not flexuous, 5–40 cm;
internodes usually glabrous.
unbranched or sparsely branched, arachnoid-villous.
spirally arranged, sessile;
blade dull green, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, 9–27 × 1–4 cm (distal leaf blades wider than sheaths when sheaths opened, flattened), base cuneate to rounded, apex acuminate, not glaucous, glabrous or sparsely puberulent.
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.
terminal;
bracts foliaceous.
terminal, 1–4 axillary, sessile in axils of distal reduced leaves, boat-shaped spathes absent.
distinctly pedicillate;
pedicels 2–3.2 cm, minutely pilose;
sepals somewhat inflated, 9–16 mm, uniformly eglandular-pilose;
petals distinct, deep blue, purple, or rose-red, broadly ovate, not clawed, 1.2–1.5 cm;
stamens free;
filaments bearded.
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.
5–7 mm.
3.5–4 mm.
2–3 mm.
2 mm.
= 12.
= 12, 24, 24+ (Mexico).
Tradescantia ernestiana
Tradescantia crassifolia
Tradescantia ernestiana is sympatric with, and easily confused with, T. virginiana in northern Alabama and perhaps northern Georgia [reported from Georgia by C. Sinclair (1967, p. 87), but no specimens are cited and I have seen none]. At present, the two species can be separated only by the relative width of the blade and sheath of the distal leaves. They are obviously closely related and should be studied in the field in the southern Appalachians where their ranges overlap. The Texas record is taken from C. Sinclair (1967).
The hybrid Tradescantia ernestinana × T. ozarkana is known from Arkansas and Missouri.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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.)
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