Tradescantia zebrina

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Tradescantia zebrina
Zebrina pendula 20060521 2 closer.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Commelinales
Family: Commelinaceae
Subfamily: Commelinoideae
Tribe: Tradescantieae
Subtribe: Tradescantiinae
Genus: Tradescantia
Species:
T. zebrina
Binomial name
Tradescantia zebrina
(Schinz) D. R. Hunt
Synonyms

Tradescantia pendula
Zebrina pendula
Zebrina pendula var. quadrifolia

Contents

Tradescantia zebrina, formerly known as Zebrina pendula, is a species of creeping plant in the Tradescantia genus. Common names include silver inch plant and wandering Jew. [1] The latter name is controversial, [2] and some now use the alternative wandering dude. [3] The plant is popular in cultivation due to its fast growth and attractive foliage. It is used as a groundcover in warm winter climates, and as a houseplant elsewhere. [4]

Description

Tradescantia zebrina has attractive zebra-patterned leaves, the upper surface showing purple new growth and green older growth parallel to the central axis, as well as two broad silver-colored stripes on the outer edges, with the lower leaf surface presenting a deep uniform magenta. The leaves are bluish green and usually have two longitudinal stripes that are silvery on the surface and purple on the underside. When chronically exposed to long periods of intense sunlight, the variegation fades and the leaf becomes purple throughout.

The leaf sheaths are thin and translucent, 8 to 12 mm long and 5 to 8 mm wide, at the mouth they are long, otherwise glabrous or slightly hairy.

Tradescantia zebrina leaves Zebrina pendula-xavier cottage-yercaud-salem-India.JPG
Tradescantia zebrina leaves

The low-lying, slightly succulent, perennial, herbaceous plant often forms dense mats or colonies. This is done primarily by natural formation of sinkers. On the nodules of the shoot are root approaches, from which roots develop in permanent contact with water or a sufficiently moist substrate under favorable conditions within a day. The shoots are glabrous or hairy. The stalked, parallel-veined leaves are mostly ovate, 4 to 10 cm long and 1.5 to 3 cm wide, pointed towards the tip, rounded to the base. The upper surface is glabrous to mildly hairy, the underside hairless to averagely hairy, ciliate towards the leaf base. The structure of the flower - usually from the three pink petals and the white sexual organs - is similar to that of the other Tradescantia, but unlike what happens in those, the plant branches off thanks to new buds whose attachment starts below that of the leaf (and not above)

A dense mat of Tradescantia zebrina Zebrina pendula 2zz.jpg
A dense mat of Tradescantia zebrina

The flowers are in groups, supported by two large foliage-like, narrow, ciliate bracts. The hermaphrodite, radial-symmetrical flowers are threefold. The three overgrown sepals are 2 to 3 mm long. The three only grown at the base petals are ovate-blunt, pink to purple and 5 to 9 mm long. The six equally sized stamens are violet hairy. Three carpels have become a top permanent ovary grown. They form capsule fruits that contain gray-brown seeds. [5]

Skin irritation may result from repeated contact with or prolonged handling of the plant — particularly from the clear, watery sap (a characteristic unique to T. zebrina as compared with the other aforementioned types).

Habitat

Tradescantia zebrina is native to Mexico, Central America, and Colombia, but can also be found on the Caribbean islands. It is naturalized in parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, South America, and various oceanic islands. [6]

The plant grows in thickets in the wetland and rainforest, often on stones in shady and open areas or on river banks at altitudes of 2000 meters or below, but mainly at lower altitudes. [7]

Cultivation

It is commonly available and used as a houseplant and groundcover, aggressively colonizing new areas when left undisturbed. Propagated by cuttings, this plant can be moved or manipulated easily as its runners cling lightly to the ground (if used as cover). It tends to become an invasive species if not properly maintained. The plant is not frost-resistant but can be kept indoors during the winter months in colder climates. It is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 9, 10 and 11. [8]

Variegated cultivar, Tradescantia zebrina 'Danny Lee' Tradescantia zebrina variegata 'Danny Lee'.jpg
Variegated cultivar, Tradescantia zebrina 'Danny Lee'

The species, [9] and the cultivars 'Purpusii' [10] and 'Quadricolor' [11] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [12] [13]

Invasiveness

Tradescantia zebrina engulfing a truck Starr-110601-6050-Tradescantia zebrina-engulfing truck-Keokea-Maui (24465922124).jpg
Tradescantia zebrina engulfing a truck

It is classified as a Category 1b Invasive Species in South Africa, [14] and thus may no longer be planted or propagated. All trade in seeds, cuttings or other propagative material is prohibited. It may not be transported or be allowed to disperse, either in rural or urban areas. [15] [16] It is also an invasive species in the Galápagos Islands. [17]

Varieties

Related Research Articles

<i>Tradescantia</i> Genus of plants

Tradescantia is a genus of 85 species of herbaceous perennial wildflowers in the family Commelinaceae, native to the Americas from southern Canada to northern Argentina, including the West Indies. Members of the genus are known by many common names, including inchplant, wandering jew, spiderwort, dayflower and trad.

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Prunus cerasifera is a species of plum known by the common names cherry plum and myrobalan plum. It is native to Southeast Europe and Western Asia, and is naturalised in the British Isles and scattered locations in North America. Also naturalized in parts of SE Australia where it is considered to be a mildly invasive weed of bushland near urban centers. P. cerasifera is believed to one of the parents of the Cultivated Plum, Prunus domestica perhaps crossing with the sloe, Prunus spinosa, or perhaps the sole parent. This would make it a parent of most of the commercial varieties of plum in the UK and mainland Europe - Victoria, greengages, bullace etc.

<i>Lobularia maritima</i> Species of flowering plant

Lobularia maritima is a species of low-growing flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. Its common name is sweet alyssum or sweet alison, also commonly referred to as just alyssum.

<i>Tradescantia pallida</i> Species of flowering plant

Tradescantia pallida is a species of spiderwort native to the Gulf Coast region of eastern Mexico. The cultivar T. pallida 'Purpurea' is commonly called purple secretia, purple-heart, or purple queen. Edward Palmer collected the type specimen near Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas in 1907.

<i>Tradescantia fluminensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Tradescantia fluminensis is a species of spiderwort native to South America. It is one of several plants known by the common name wandering Jew. It is also known as small-leaf spiderwort, river spiderwort, inch plant, speedy Henry, wandering willie and wandering trad.

<i>Euphorbia milii</i> Species of plant

Euphorbia milii, the crown of thorns, Christ plant, or Christ's thorn, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae, native to Madagascar. The species name commemorates Baron Milius, once Governor of Réunion, who introduced the species to France in 1821.

<i>Rudbeckia fulgida</i> Species of flowering plant

Rudbeckia fulgida, the orange coneflower or perennial coneflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to eastern North America.

<i>Vinca major</i> Species of vine

Vinca major, with the common names bigleaf periwinkle, large periwinkle, greater periwinkle and blue periwinkle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, native to the western Mediterranean. Growing to 25 cm (10 in) tall and spreading indefinitely, it is an evergreen perennial, frequently used in cultivation as groundcover.

<i>Jasminum polyanthum</i> Species of jasmine

Jasminum polyanthum, the many-flowered jasmine, pink jasmine, or white jasmine, is a species of flowering plant in the olive family Oleaceae, native to China and Myanmar. A strong evergreen twining climber, it is especially noted for its abundant, highly fragrant pink to white flowers.

<i>Asparagus setaceus</i> Species of plant

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<i>Acacia retinodes</i> Species of legume

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<i>Ipomoea indica</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Hibbertia scandens</i> Species of vine

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<i>Oxalis triangularis</i> Species of flowering plant

Oxalis triangularis, commonly called false shamrock, is a species of perennial plant in the family Oxalidaceae. It is native to several countries in southern South America. This woodsorrel is typically grown as a houseplant but can be grown outside in USDA climate zones 8a–11, preferably in light shade.

<i>Tradescantia spathacea</i> Species of herb

Tradescantia spathacea, also called the oyster plant, boatlily or 'Moses-in-the-cradle', is an herb in the Commelinaceae family which was first described in 1788. It is native to Belize, Guatemala, and southern México and is widely cultivated as an ornamental houseplant; it has become naturalized in parts of coastal Southern California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Texas, and various Pacific and Indian Ocean islands.

<i>Symphyotrichum pilosum</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to central and eastern North America

Symphyotrichum pilosum is a perennial, herbaceous, flowering plant in the Asteraceae family native to central and eastern North America. It is commonly called hairy white oldfield aster, frost aster, white heath aster, heath aster, hairy aster, common old field aster, old field aster, awl aster, nailrod, and steelweed. There are two varieties: Symphyotrichumpilosum var.pilosum, known by the common names previously listed, and Symphyotrichumpilosum var.pringlei, known as Pringle's aster. Both varieties are conservationally secure globally and in most provinces and states where they are native.

<i>Pelargonium peltatum</i> Scrambling perennial plant in the family Geraniaceae from southern and eastern South Africa

Pelargonium peltatum is a scrambling perennial plant with five shallow or deeply lobed, circular- to heart-shaped, somewhat fleshy leaves, sometimes with a differently coloured semicircular band, that has been assigned to the cranesbill family. It carries umbel-like inflorescences with 2–10, white to mauve, bilateral symmetrical flowers, each with a "spur" that is merged with the flower stalk. It is known by several common names including ivy-leaved pelargonium and cascading geranium. It is native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. In its home range, it flowers year round but most vigorously from August to October.

<i>Acer palmatum</i> Species of maple

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<i>Maranta leuconeura</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Prunus sibirica</i> Species of plant

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References

  1. "Datasheet:Tradescantia zebrina (wandering jew)". CAB Direct . Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI). Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  2. "Racism in Taxonomy: What's in a Name?". Hoyt Arboretum. 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  3. "Wandering 'Dude'". Brigham Young University . Brigham Young University . Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  4. "Tradescantia zebrina (Wandering Jew)". Gardenia. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  5. Paul C. Standley and Julian A. Steyermark: Flora of Guatemala , Field Museum of History Botanical Series, Volume 24, Part III, Chicago, USA, 1952.
  6. "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew". apps.kew.org.
  7. Fritz Encke: Plants for Room and Balcony , Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, 1964.
  8. "How to Care for Inch Plants (Tradescantia)". Old Farmer's Almanac . Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  9. "Tradescantia zebrina". www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  10. "Tradescantia zebrina 'Purpusii'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  11. "Tradescantia zebrina 'Quadricolor'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  12. "RHS Plant Selector - Tradescantia zebrina". Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  13. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 102. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  14. "Invasive Species South Africa - Protecting Biodiversity from Invasion - South Africa's Invasive Species Legislation". Archived from the original on 2016-01-09. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  15. "Legal Obligations Regarding Invasive Alien Plants in South Africa". Archived from the original on 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  16. "National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act [No. 10 of 2004]" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  17. "dataZone" (PDF). Darwinfoundation.org. Retrieved 2020-07-08.