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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