Tradescantia paludosa

E. S. Anderson & Woodson

Contr. Arnold Arbor. 9: 83; plate 2, fig. 4; plate 4, fig. 6; plate 11;. 1935.

Endemic
Synonyms: Tradescantia ohiensis var. paludosa (E. S. Anderson & Woodson) MacRoberts
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 22.

Herbs, erect, ascending, or occasionally decumbent, rarely rooting at nodes. Stems often much branched distally, 15–60 cm; internodes not at all to slightly glaucous, glabrous. Leaves spirally arranged, sessile, forming nearly right angle with stem, straight; blade narrowly oblong-elliptic to linear-lanceolate, 4–11(–20) × 0.4–1.2 cm (distal leaf blades equal to or narrower than sheaths when sheaths opened, flattened), base often constricted, apex acuminate, not at all to slightly glaucous, glabrous. Inflorescences terminal, often axillary; bracts foliaceous. Flowers distinctly pedicillate; pedicels 0.8–1.5 cm, glabrous; sepals 0.6–0.8 mm, glabrous or with apical tuft of eglandular hairs; petals distinct, pale blue, ovate, not clawed, 1.3–1.5 cm; stamens free; filaments bearded. Capsules 2–5 mm. Seeds 2–3 mm. 2n = 12.


Phenology: Flowering spring (Mar–May), sporadically to early fall.
Habitat: Alluvial bottoms and swamps, forests, roadsides, railroad rights-of-way, fields, ditches, and lawns

Distribution

V22 222-distribution-map.jpg

Ala., Ark., Fla., La., Miss., Tex.

Discussion

Tradescantia paludosa is clearly Anderson and Woodson's weakest species, and D. T. MacRoberts (1979) may be correct in treating it as a variety of Trandescantia ohiensis. In view of its importance as a research tool, however, I prefer to maintain T. paludosa as a species until a more rigorous analysis of its variation is published. Plants of this species do not seem to require a winter dormancy, hence they can be cultivated in greenhouses year-round.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Tradescantia paludosa"
Robert B. Faden +
E. S. Anderson & Woodson +
Ala. +, Ark. +, Fla. +, La. +, Miss. +  and Tex. +
Alluvial bottoms and swamps, forests, roadsides, railroad rights-of-way, fields, ditches, and lawns +
Flowering spring (Mar–May), sporadically to early fall. +
Contr. Arnold Arbor. +
Tradescantia ohiensis var. paludosa +
Tradescantia paludosa +
Tradescantia +
species +