Tradescantia subaspera Ker Gawler. Common name: Wide-leaved Spiderwort, Zigzag Spiderwort. Phenology: Jun-Jul. Habitat: Dry to mesic woodlands and forests, hammocks. Distribution: Nc. NC, w. VA, WV, OH, IN, IL, and MO, south to NC, SC, sw. GA, Panhandle FL, and AL.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Two questionable varieties are sometimes recognized. Var. subaspera may be distinguished by the stem conspicuously zigzag above, except on depauperate or juvenile plants (vs. the stems straight or only slightly zigzag), uppermost lateral cymes sessile or short-pedunculate (vs. pedunculate throughout), uppermost internodes very reduced, crowding the upper leaves (vs. internodes less reduced), leaves much broader than the sheath (vs. only slightly broader), and its generally greater size than var. montana. T. subaspera var. montana ranges from sw. VA and c. WV south to nw. SC, n. GA, and se. TN, with disjunct occurrences in c. AL and Panhandle FL. Var. subaspera ranges from WV west to n. IL, south to se. TN, ne. AR, and s. MO, with disjunct occurrences in NC.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, FNA22, NY, RAB, Tn, Va, W, WH3, Pellegrini (2017); > Tradescantia comata Small — S13; > Tradescantia montana Shuttlew. ex Britton — S13; > Tradescantia pilosa J.G.C.Lemaire — S, S13; > Tradescantia subaspera Ker Gawl. var. montana (Shuttlew. ex Britton) E.S.Anderson & Woodson — C, F, G, Il, K4, WV, Anderson & Woodson (1935), Tucker (1989); > Tradescantia subaspera Ker Gawl. var. subaspera — C, F, G, Il, K4, Mo1, WV, Anderson & Woodson (1935), Tucker (1989). Basionym: Tradescantia subaspera Ker Gawl. 1813
Links to other floras: = Tradescantia subaspera - FNA22
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Heliophily ⓘ: 4
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© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Clump-forming, ascending perennial of dry to moist woodlands, forests and hammocks.
Stems: Stems sparingly branched, somewhat zigzag, smooth or hairy.
Leaves: Leaves alternate; sessile with tubular, sheathing bases; narrowly lance-shaped to oval-lance-shaped; to 12 in. long; smooth or hairy; with the upper surface a darker green than the lower.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in terminal clusters with a long leaf-like bract spread beneath, blue or light purple (rarely white), about 1 in. wide, consisting of 3 petals and 6 hairy blue stamens bearing yellow anthers.
Fruits: Fruit a nearly round, 3-celled capsule.
Comments:
Height: 1 1/2-3 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Clump-forming, ascending perennial of dry to moist woodlands, forests and hammocks.
stems: Stems sparingly branched, somewhat zigzag, smooth or hairy.
leaves: Leaves alternate; sessile with tubular, sheathing bases; narrowly lance-shaped to oval-lance-shaped; to 12 in. long; smooth or hairy; with the upper surface a darker green than the lower.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in terminal clusters with a long leaf-like bract spread beneath, blue or light purple (rarely white), about 1 in. wide, consisting of 3 petals and 6 hairy blue stamens bearing yellow anthers.
fruits: Fruit a nearly round, 3-celled capsule.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern United States
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