Commelinaceae - Dayflowers, Spiderworts
The Commelinaceae is a family of 40 genera and over 600 species of monocotyledenous flowering herbs, distributed from Northern temperate to tropical climates.
Succulence is common and stems may be thickened often with nodal swellings. The alternate simple parallel-veined leaves sheath the stem at their base. Sap may be slimy and mucillaginous. The short-lived (common name: "Dayflower") bisexual flowers are often blue or purple. They generally have three-fold symmetry, with three green sepals, three petals, six or fewer stamens and often three locules in the superior ovary which develops into a capsule. Many species have hairy stamen filaments. Nectaries are absent and the flowers do not produce nectar.
Many species are cultivated for decorative effect as garden ornamentals or houseplants. The genus Tradescantia contains many tender trailing succulent species with thickened stems, some with fleshy and hairy leaves. They are easily propagated by cuttings and generally tolerant of conditions, but bright light will maintain a compact habit, good leaf colour and leaf hairs if present.
Some Tradescantias have blue stamen hairs which change color to pink though somatic mutation when exposed to low levels of ionising radiation. This is one of the few effective bio-assays for low doses of radiation.
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Callisia fragrans (Lindley) Woodson 1942 (False Bromeliad)
This tolerant Mexican plant produces long flower stems with fragrant white to pale pink flowers arranged in clusters of three.
The waxy leaves colour up in full sun with purple markings, especially leaf margins. Rosettes root easily to make new plants. Good for hanging baskets or ground cover in mild climates but will not tolerate significant frost. Various variegated cultivars may be seen.
Widely cultivated for supposed cure-all properties, especially in Russia.
Photo: Larry Berg.
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Commelina erecta (Erect or Slender or Whitemouth Dayflower)
growing about 3 miles South of Marathon, Texas, where it was fairly common on the road margins. This non-succulent plant has a tuberous root, perhaps explaining its tolerance of hot, dry conditions. It is widely distributed throughout the Americas and Africa.
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Tradescantia micrantha Torrey 1859 Syn: Callisia micrantha (Spiderwort)
This fleshy Tradescantia was growing in full sun on rocks in the baisin area within the Chisos Mountains of the Big Bend National Park, Texas. Where growing in full sunlight, leaf margins and stems were bright purple and the growth habit was compact, but on the shaded (South) side of the canyon plants had mainly green leaves and longer internodal stem segments.
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Tradescantia sillamontana (Cobweb Spiderwort)
is a showy trailing plant with markedly hirsute leaves and a typical 3-petalled purple flower. It originates in the mountains of Northern Mexico so tolerates cool, frost-free winter conditions if kept on the dry side. Selected cultivars with pure white leaf hairs are available in the horticultural trade.
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Tradescantia spathacea (Boat Lily, Oysterplant) Syn: Rhoeo spathacea |
an erect shrubby plant with large sword-shaped dark green leaves with purple undersides. It originates in the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America but has become naturalised in other warm climates. It is listed as an invasive species in Florida. This plant is commonly used in decorative displays or as a feature plant for a large pot. The small white three-petalled flowers are produced in boat-shaped purple bracts hidden in the leaf axils. Cultivars with longitudinally-striped leaves are available.
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Families of Succulent Plants 
