RENI on 
34 
TRADESCANTIA iridescens. 
‘Iridescent Tradescantia. 
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Nat. ord. COMMELINACES. 
TRADESCANTIA. Botanical Register, vol. vi. fol. 482. 
T. iridescens; acaulis, radicibus carnosis, foliis oblongis acutis concavis glabris 
ciliatis subtüs pilosis, umbellis laxis terminalibus sessilibus, petalis obo- 
vatis staminibus tripló longioribus. Bot. Reg. 1838, misc. no. 160. 
A detailed description of this very pretty greenhouse 
perennial will be found at page 86 of the miscellaneous 
matter of the Botanical Register for 1838, by Mr. W. B. 
Booth, to whom I am also indebted for the accompanying 
drawing, made from a plant that flowered in the garden of 
Sir Charles Lemon, Bart. at Carclew in Cornwall. 
It is a half-hardy perennial with tuberous roots, growing 
in any rich soil, and flowering in July and August, each 
flower only lasting for a few hours. The plant is increased 
freely by seeds, but seldom flowers before the second season ; 
its roots may be preserved during the winter, if kept dry 
in the pots, or in sand, like Cape bulbs. 
Among the many described species from Mexico this 
seems to be the only stemless one, so that little probability 
exists of its being mistaken for any other. Mr. Hartweg 
did not meet with it. 
Although its flowers are very ephemeral there is a long 
succession’ of them, and their iridescent appearance renders 
them extremely pretty. 
