Commelinaceae
Spiderwort Family
Tradescantia bracteata Small
- Stem: perennial; 1’ to 2’ tall; unbranched; smooth.
- Leaves: alternate; linear, with sheathing base, tapering to a sharp point at the tip; 6” to 8” long by 1/2” to 1” wide; scattered hairs above, smooth below.
- Inflorescence: umbel of few to many flowers on flower stalks from the stem tip and upper leaf axils; the flower stalks of the individual flowers long-hairy; the flower buds bent downward but bending upright at blooming; each flower cluster arising from two basal bracts, the bracts shorter than the stem leaves.
- Flowers: petals blue to rose-purple, 1/2” long; sepals 7/16” long, long-hairy; the filaments of the stamens with long, blue hairs; flowering from mid-May to mid-June.
- Fruits: capsule, 3/16” long, splitting into three segments; developing within the calyx; fruiting begins in late May.
- Habitat: common on dry to moist prairies; also in open woods, on roadsides, and in other open places; infrequent in southeastern Iowa.
- Bibliography from Biodiversity Heritage Library
- Vascular Plants of Iowa
Can be found in these counties:
