Tradescantia pallida.
Family Commelinaceae.
The recognised common name is Wandering Jew but it shares this with a number of other species.
It is a perennial trailing or scrambling plant.
The thick stems are a deep purple with swollen nodes.
Roots grow from the nodes and the stems break easily at the nodes.
The narrow oblong leaves are 15 cm long with a pointed tip.
The sides are folded up so the blade is ‘V’ or ‘U’ shaped in cross section.
Their bases form a closed sheath around the stem.
There are hairs at the top of the sheath.
The upper leaf surface is a darkish purple with greyish or greenish tints.
The underside is a brighter purple and there is a narrow reddish edge.
Stalked inflorescences grow from the leaf axils.
Much of the inflorescence can be covered by the deep purple bracts.
Flowers are about 1.5 cm across.
They have 3 petals and are mostly pink or purlpe but can be white.
There are 6 stamens with yellow anthers that open laterally by longitudinal slits.
There are hairs on the stamen filaments.
The ovary has 3 locules.
J.F.
