Herbs, some erect, others prostrate and mat-forming. Inflorescences mostly terminal, composed of fused pairs of cymes, subtended by paired boat-shaped bracts. Flowers bisexual, radially symmetric. Sepals 3. Petals 3, usually free, sometimes united, blue-violet, mauve, pink or white. Stamens 6, all fertile and ± similar. Ovary 3-locular with (1-)2 ovules in each loculus. Fruit a dehiscent capsule. Derivation of name: Named after John Tradescant, gardener to Charles I, who died c.1638 Comment: This concept of Tradescantia includes the genera Rhoeo, Setcreasea and Zebrina, following D.R. Hunt in the European Garden Flora. Worldwide: 70 species in America Zimbabwe: 3 taxa. |
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