Tradescantia zebrina

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Cladus: Commelinids
Ordo: Commelinaless

Familia: Commelinaceae
Subfamilia: Commelinoideae
Tribus: Tradescantieae
Subtribus: Tradescantiinae
Genus: Tradescantia
Sectio: T. sect. Zebrina
Species: Tradescantia zebrina
Varietates: T. z. var. flocculosa – T. z. var. mollipila – T. z. var. zebrina
Name

Tradescantia zebrina Bosse, Vollst. Handb. Blumengärt., ed. 2 4: 655 (1849).
Synonyms

Homotypic
Cyanotis zebrina (Bosse) Nees, Index Seminum (WROCL, Wratislaviensi) 1850: 3 (1851).
Commelina zebrina (Bosse) André, Pl. Feuill. Ornem.: 145 (1866).

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Southern America
Argentina Northeast; Bahamas; Belize; Bermuda; Bolivia; Brazil Northeast; Brazil South; Brazil Southeast; Costa Rica; Cuba; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; Guatemala; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Jamaica Nicaragua; Niue; Norfolk Is.; Panam; Peru; Philippines; Pitcairn Is.; Puerto Rico; Southwest Caribbean; St.Helena; Trinidad-Tobago; Venezuelan Antilles; Windward Is.
Continental: Northern America
Mexico Northwest; Mexico Southeast; Mexico Southwest; Mexico Central; Mexico Gulf; Mexico Northeast

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Bosse, J.F.W., 1847. Vollständiges Handbuch der Blumengärtnerei, oder genau Beschreibung fast aller in Deutschland... ed. 2. 4:655. 1849 May (G. Heynhold, Alph. Aufz. Gew. 735. 1847 , nom. nud.)

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2019. Tradescantia zebrina in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 October 31. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Tradescantia zebrina. Published online. Accessed: October 31 2019.
Tropicos.org 2019. Tradescantia zebrina. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 October 31.
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. [1]

Vernacular names
Deutsch: Dreimasterblume, Flinker Heinrich, Wasserranke
English: Wandering Jew, inchplant spiderwort
suomi: Kirjojuoru
français: Misère, éphémère
magyar: Tarka pletyka

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 (also sometimes used for the related species T. fluminensis[2][3]) is controversial[4], and some now use the alternative wandering dude.[5]

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.[6]

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. 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.

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)

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.[7]
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.[8]

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.[9]

Uses
Cultivation
Flinker Heinrich.jpg

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.[10]

The species,[11] and the cultivars 'Purpusii'[12] and 'Quadricolor'[13] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[14][15]
Medicinal

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).
Invasiveness

It is classified as a Category 1b Invasive Species in South Africa,[16] 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.[17][18]

It is also an invasive species in the Galapagos Islands.[19]
Varieties

Tradescantia zebrina var. flocculosa (G.Brückn.) D.R.Hunt - tropical Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras
Tradescantia zebrina var. mollipila D.R.Hunt - tropical Mexico
Tradescantia zebrina var. zebrina - most of Mexico from north to south, Central America, Colombia

References

"Datasheet:Tradescantia zebrina (wandering jew)". CAB Direct. Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI). Retrieved August 23, 2021.
Nelson Sutherland, C.H. (2008). Catálogo de las plantes vasculares de Honduras. Espermatofitas: 1-1576. SERNA/Guaymuras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
CONABIO. 2009. Catálogo taxonómico de especies de México. 1. In Capital Nat. México. CONABIO, México D.F..
"Racism in Taxonomy: What's in a Name?". Hoyt Arboretum. 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
"Wandering 'Dude'". Brigham Young University. Brigham Young University. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
"Tradescantia zebrina (Wandering Jew)". Gardenia. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
Paul C. Standley and Julian A. Steyermark: Flora of Guatemala , Field Museum of History Botanical Series, Volume 24, Part III, Chicago, USA, 1952.
"World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew". apps.kew.org.
Fritz Encke: Plants for Room and Balcony , Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, 1964.
"How to Care for Inch Plants (Tradescantia)". Old Farmer's Almanac. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
"Tradescantia zebrina". www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
"Tradescantia zebrina 'Purpusii'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
"Tradescantia zebrina 'Quadricolor'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
"RHS Plant Selector - Tradescantia zebrina". Retrieved 5 July 2013.
"AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 102. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-01-09. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
"National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act [No. 10 of 2004]" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-07-08.
"dataZone" (PDF). Darwinfoundation.org. Retrieved 2020-07-08.