created: Nov. 6, 2021
updated: Nov. 23, 2021
Tradescantia ‘Roxxo' was a new hybrid that appeared around March 2019 in the Dutch nursery De Plaats. From the nursery it was said that this plant was a seemingly odd crossing between Tradescantia pallida X Tradescantia zebrina X Tradescantia multiflora (Gibasis pellucida). Then some months later, at the tag on the pot it was written Tradescantia spat. ‘Roxxo’ (spat. referring to a T. spathacea cultivar). But - firstly - this plant has nothing to do with the growth habit of Tradescantia spathacea plants, and secondly, it is identical to Tradescantia shippii.
Tradescantia shippii is a botanical species that was described in 1983 by David Richard Hunt[1]. Tradescantia schippii has the same purple stems but green leaves both on the upper and underneath side of the leaves. Whilst on this plant that was circulated as Tradescantia spathacea 'Roxxo' the underside of the leaves is purple. Other than that, these two plants are identical. This plant is most possibly a hybrid having a close affinity to Tradescantia shippii. Therefore a more descriptive name should be: Tradescantia aff. shippii. In botany the term aff. is used to describe plants having a close affinity to the plant that they resemble to.
There have also appeared photos of Tradescantia schippii in situ where the plant has a green color overall (also on the stems). Could that be a subspecies or variety? The plants in the Commelinaceae family are evolving pretty fast.
Photographic Material
Below you can see photographic material and also the photo from the Tradescantia schippii as identified by botanist Marco O.O Pellegrini, expert in the Commelinaceae family. The photo was shared by Erica Jane, collector and expert in Commelinaceae.
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| This was sold as Tradescantia spat. 'Roxxo'. However, for all of us that are aware of the basics, this plant has nothing to do with the growth habit of Tradescantia spathacea plants. |
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| Close up on the leaves |
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| The only difference to the Tradescantia schippi are the purple leaves on the back side. |
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| Tradescantia schippii, specimen from field research, provided by Marco O.O Pellegrini, shared via Erica Jane. |
This is the Tradescantia schippii as identified by botanist and expert in Commelinaceae Marco O.O Pellegrini. Tradescantia schippii is a botanical species that described in 1983 by D.R.Hunt[1].
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| Tradescantia schippii in situ. Photo: O. Vargas |
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| Tradescantia schippii in situ. Photo: O. Vargas |
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| There is also Tradescantia schippii but with green stems, not purple. Possibly a subsp. / var.? |
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| Another photo of the Tradescantia schippii with the green stems. |
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References
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