Tradescantia zebrina

Tradescantia zebrina Bosse, Vollst. Handb. Bl.-Gartn. 4: 655. 1849; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 24: 38. 2000; Fl. North Amer. @ eFloras.org vol. 22; Commelina zebrina (Bosse) Andre, Pl. Feuill. Ornem. 145. 1866; Cyanotis zebrina (Bosse) Nees, Index Seminum (WROCL) 1850: 3. 1851.

Perennial herb. Stem prostrate or decumbent, often forming dense mats or colonies, branched, rooting at nodes, glabrous or pilose. Leaves alternate, distichous, sessile; leaf sheath tubular enclosing stem completely, 8-23 mm long, thin, membranous, purple-striped, long-ciliate at mouth, otherwise glabrous or slightly villous; leaf blade somewhat fleshy, 3-9 cm x 1.5-3 cm, ovate, elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, base oblique, cuneate, apex acute to acuminate, margin entire, surfaces glabrous, adaxial surface with 2-4 evenly arranged long stripes, abaxial surface reddish-purple.

Plants never produce flowers in this area.

Flowering and Fruiting: No flowering
Common Names: Striped Wandering Jew, Striped Inch Plant, Silver Inch Plant, Cockroach Grass, Purple Wandering Jew, Inch Plant