Prairie Spiderwort
Tradescantia occidentalis
At boundary between juniper grassland and a sycamore riparian habitat. Sycamore Creek, Mazatzal Mts., Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA. 22 May 2016.
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HERB: Above ground growth is herbaceous, less than 0.5m, and arises from a subterranean perennial tuber.
FLOWERS: Groups of purple to pink flowers below which are two or three long, grass-like leaves.
The yellow stamens are supported on filaments with long purple fringe hairs.
LEAVES: Leaves are parallel veined and like those of lilies. Clustered mostly at base.
RANGE: Distributed in grassland and open juniper woodlands usually on rocky flat terrain through mush of western North America.
FRUIT: Capsule with three valves and one or two seeds in each compartment.
UNARMED. Without thorns.
Commelinaceae -- Spiderwort Family
More Information:
- Southwest Environmental Information Network
- Southwest Colorado Wildflowers
- USDA Plant Profile
- Google Images
- Google Scholar Literature Search