Tradescantia boliviana

Updated: Sept. 22 2021

Tradescantia boliviana: the spectacular inflorescence (credits of the photo to Stefan Neuwirth),
and a rooted cutting.

Family: Commelinaceae

Accepted name: Tradescantia boliviana^{[1, 2, 3]}

Basionym: Mandonia boliviana^{[1, 2, 3]}

Synonyms: Mandonia boliviana; Skofitzia boliviana; Tradescantia ambigua var. pilosula^{[1, 4]}

Heterotypic synonym: Tradescantia ambigua var. pilosula^[1]

Homotypic synonym: Skofitzia boliviana^[1]

Leaf-texture: pilosulus (somewhat fuzzy)

The Tradescantia boliviana is a relatively recently discovered botanical species in the Commelinaceae family, native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Peru. It was firstly described in 2004 (Jason R. Grant) as a new species, with distinctively different characteristics than the Tradescantia ambigua^{[2, 3]}.

Description

The small narrow and pilosulus (somewhat fuzzy) leaves have a thin orange border and are slightly jagged at the edge of the leaf. The edge of the leaves is also recurvifolius (having a wavy form; see last image for more) and the arrangement of the leaves is alternate, one leaf per node and at an angle approx 90°.

It’s a summer growing perennial, which needs strictly and completely a dry winter dormancy. It needs full sun to remain upright and then masses of medium sized fuchsia triangular flowers appear along the shoots, very attractive.

Photographic material

Summer growth and colors.

Summer growth and colors.

Summer growth and colors. This plant has thick tuberous roots

Tradescantia boliviana: winter growth. The small narrow leaves are slightly fuzzy
with an orange border on the edge of the leaf, when exposed in bright light.

Tradescantia boliviana: winter growth. Small narrow fuzzy leaves with thin purple stems.

Winter growth.

Some tips on identification: The edge of the leaves is jagged and also recurvifolius (having a wavy form [1]).
And the arrangement of the leaves is alternate, one leaf per node and at an angle approx 90° [2].

References

1. Flora do Brasil 2020: Tradescantia boliviana

2. Biodiversity Heritage Library: Tradescantia boliviana

3. IPNI: Tradescantia boliviana

4. POWO: Tradescantia boliviana

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Tradescantia hirta

Tradescantia hirta

hirtus, -a, -um refers to the hairiness of the plant.

Just like every other Tradescantia, they are easy to get them to root
in water, in sphagnum moss, or directly into the soil.

Tradescantia hirta is a botanical species from NE Mexico, in the family Commelinaceae. Its characteristic are the thin stems covered with hairs. And also, it's a rarely seen Tradescantia species that forms tear-drop bulbs that sit on top of the soil, in clusters.

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Tradescantia buckleyi

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Tradescantia buckleyi: in bloom, at her winter colors.

Here she is with her natural greyish colors (exposed in bright light during summertime).
When exposed in lower light (during winter) the foliage turns green,
but when exposed again in bright light her natural greyish colors appear again.

Tradescantia buckleyi is a botanical species (natural variety) in the Commelinaceae family.

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Tradescantia zebrina var. tikal

Tradescantia zebrina var. tikal: the rarest and
the most beautiful zebrina, is making it difficult for us.

updated: 10 August 2021

The Tradescantia zebrina var. tikal is a naturally occuring variety near Tikal, Mexico. It resembles somewhat to the mollipila but the leaves are larger, less round, mostly in arrow-shape, with vivid purple stripes on both sides of the leaf.

Is this yet another infraspecific?

Since this is a naturally occurring plant with such distinct pattern, it seems so. It's just that the plants in the genus Tradescantia are proliferating and the botanists can't catch up with their classification. At the time of writing, there are three accepted infraspecifics in the zebrina genus at the POWO website:

• Tradescantia zebrina var. flocculosa (G.Brückn.) D.R.Hunt
• Tradescantia zebrina var. mollipila D.R.Hunt
• Tradescantia zebrina var. zebrina

Therefore, I believe what we have here is a pending classification.

By the way, I have seen this plant written with single (or even double) quotes, but the single quotes are indicating a cultivar, not a naturally occurring variety.

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This naturally occurring zebrina variety was rescued from its natural habitat in Mexico, but unfortunately it carries a kind of bacterial infection. This infection is a rare case, since it is mostly active during winter but with the warmer summer temperatures the plant seems to be doing fine. This is quite the opposite from what we see in most of the bacterial infections, which are most active during warmer temperatures, just the opposite from what we have here. This infection doesn't seem to be contagious, it's just that during low temperatures the plant loses its colors and it grows slower (mostly green) with a few (the typical zebrina) stripes here and there with a broken pattern. When exposed again to the higher temperatures in summer, it appears to grow normal again. At the moment, everyone that has a Tradescantia zebrina var. tikal in their collection, has the same infected clone. Experienced Commelinaceae collectors have not managed to determine (and reverse) the course of that viral infection. TS (Tissue Culture) might be an option to try and clear this natural variety from that viral - yet harmless - infection. The best solution however - if it is possible - would be to start all over with a freshly new specimen - pathogen free - from another location.

This is how the plant looks in the growing season, seemingly healthy.

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Tradescantia fluminensis vs Tradescantia mundula

I have noticed that - at least in the Netherlands and perhaps elsewhere - the Tradescantia mundula is labeled and sold as Tradescantia fluminensis. Especially in the Netherlands, there's a great confusion with the illegitimate cultivar name 'Green Hill'. That cultivar name has been created and widely circulated from a Dutch nursery. At first they labeled the plants they sale as Tradescantia fluminensis 'Green Hill' and then they changed it to: Tradescantia 'Green Hill'. This plant however is the Tradescantia mundula which is a botanical species (not a cultivar) and it was first described by Kunth in 1843.

Tradescantia mundula is a botanical species that was described in 1843
Source: IPNI: Tradescantia mundula

Tradescantia 'Green Hill' → Tradescantia mundula

Watch the video below to find their differences:

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