Purple-leaved three-masted flower
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Purple-leaved three-masted flower ( Tradescantia spathacea ), habitus |
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| Sw. |
The plant species purple-leaved three-masted flower ( Tradescantia spathacea ), sometimes its old name Rhoëo is used, belongs to the commelina family (Commelinaceae). Their natural range includes the Caribbean islands and extends in Central America from southern Mexico via Belize to Guatemala . It is used in the tropics to subtropics as an ornamental plant in parks and gardens and it is also used as an insensitive houseplant . In large parts of the subtropics and tropics it has become overgrown.
description
Appearance and leaf
Tradescantia spathacea grows as an evergreen, perennial herbaceous plant . Often several shoot axes stand together in colonies. The short, upright, first, later prostrate, unbranched, bald stem axis can reach a diameter of up to 3 centimeters, and it rarely form roots at the nodes ( Nodien ).
The alternate and seemingly spirally arranged leaves are sessile. The leaf sheath , which is sometimes hairy , initially closely encompasses the stem axis, later it opens and is flat. The simple, bald, somewhat fleshy, somewhat succulent , parallel- veined leaf blade is elongated-lanceolate or belt-shaped with a length of 20 to 40 centimeters and a width of 3 to 6 centimeters with a narrowed blade base, a pointed upper end and a smooth leaf edge. The upper side of the leaf is dark green and the underside of the leaf wine-red to purple in color.
Inflorescence and flower
Many flowers stand together in simple or branched, paniculate , zymous inflorescences standing sideways on a short to hardly recognizable inflorescence shaft . The inflorescences are each, folded by two large until egg-shaped with a width of about 3 centimeters, often wine-red bracts surrounded schiffchenförmig, so that only the flourishing of flowers peep out, the buds and later the maturing fruit but protected in the "boat" are. After the fruit has ripened, the “boats” dry up and often remain on the plant for a long time. The distinct flower stalks are bare. The stamens are clearly bearded.
The relatively small, hermaphrodite flowers are radial symmetry and threefold. The three free, white sepals are 3 to 6 mm long and glabrous. The three free, white petals are ovate with a length of 5 to 8 millimeters with an abrupt tip. There are two circles with three free stamens each.
Fruit and seeds
The 3 to 4 mm long capsule fruit is triple or double due to stunting. Each fruit compartment contains only one seed. The 3 to 4 mm large seed has a wrinkled surface.
Systematics
Tradescantia spathacea was 1788 Olof Swartz in Nova Genera et Species Plantarum seu Prodromus , p.57 first published . Synonyms for Tradescantia spathacea Sw. are: Rhoeo discolor (L'Hér.) Hance ex Walp. , Rhoeo spathacea (Sw.) Stearn , Tradescantia discolor L'Hér.
Use as an ornamental plant
There are a few varieties that are used as an ornamental plant in subtropical to tropical parks and gardens or spaces . The 'Vittata' variety has shiny green, yellow-striped leaves. Tradescantia spathacea is sensitive to frost.
swell
literature
- Robert B. Faden: Commelinaceae in the Flora of North America , Volume 22, 2000: Tradescantia spathacea - Online. (Section Description and Distribution)
- Deyuan Hong & Robert A. DeFilipps: Commelinaceae in the Flora of China , Volume 24, 2000, p. 38: Tradescantia spathacea - Online. (Section Description and Distribution)
- Gordon Cheers (Ed.): Botanica: The ABC of Plants. 10,000 species in text and images . Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft, 2003, ISBN 3-8331-1600-5 (therein page 894). (Ornamental plant section)
Individual evidence
- ^ Tradescantia spathacea in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
- ^ Tradescantia spathacea at Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
