Tradescantia tharpii
Contr. Arnold Arbor. 9: 70; plate 4, fig. 9; plate 9; map 7. 1935.
Herbs, erect or ascending, rarely rooting at nodes. Stems absent or 2–7 cm in flower, to 20 cm in fruit, shaggy pilose to villous. Leaves: blade green, linear-lanceolate, 4–30 × 0.9–2.5 cm (distal leaf-blades equal to or narrower than sheaths when sheaths opened, flattened), margins frequently clear or edged with rose, laxly and irregularly pilose or villous. Inflorescences terminal, solitary; bracts foliaceous, well developed, not saccate, sparsely to densely pilose. Flowers distinctly pedicillate; pedicels 4–6 cm, laxly pilose; sepals usually purple or rose-colored (rarely pale green), not inflated, 1.2–1.6 cm, uniformly eglandular-pilose; petals distinct, deep rose or purple, or frequently blue, broadly ovate, not clawed, 1.8–2.2 cm; stamens free; filaments bearded. Capsules 5–7 mm. Seeds 2–3 mm. 2n = 24.
Phenology: Flowering spring.
Habitat: Clay soils of rocky prairies and open woodlands
Distribution
Kans., Mo., Okla., Tex.
Discussion
Selected References
None.