36 SPIDEI^WOET FA:\rTLY 



and pistils of these fading flowers become coiled and 

 tangled together. 



Commelina angustifolia. Flowers blue, about 1 in. across, 

 in few-flowered axillary clusters, each of which in bud is en- 

 closed in a folded green bract. Petals 3, one very small, 

 sepals 3, stamens 3. Stems leafy, spreading, 6-24 in. long. 

 Leaves narrow, 1-5 in. long. Sandy soil. Blooming chiefly 

 from late winter to fall. Fla. to N. C. 



Commelina nudiflora. Flowers blue, seldom V2 in. across. 

 Stems creeping and rooting at the joints. Low grounds and 

 waste places. Blooming all the year. Fla. to N. J., Texas, 

 and Mo. 



Blue Spiderwort (Genus Tradescantia) 



Spiderworts bear their flowers in terminal clusters, and 

 are stouter and more erect in growth than dew-flowers. 

 The three petals are of equal size, and from their number 

 the flowers were known in old English gardens as '^trinity." 

 Their French name, epkemerine, is especially fitting, as 

 the flowers open for only a few hours in the morning. 



Species of wandering Jew, or inch plant, are of this 

 family. 



Tradescantia reflexa. Flowers blue, 1 in. across, many, in 

 umbellike terminal clusters. Petals 3, sepals 3, stamens 6. 

 Stems 1-3 ft. tall. Leaves narrow, glaucous, 6-20 in. long. 

 Bracts below flowers reflexed. Damp places. Blooming from 

 late winter to fall. Fla. to Ohio, Minn., and Texas. 



Tradescantia foliosa. Flowers similar to above species. 

 Plants 1-2 ft. tall. Leaves not glaucous, crowded at base of 

 stem. Leaf-sheaths often hairy. Chiefly in clay soil. Bloom- 

 ing in spring. Fla. 



Pink Spiderwort (Genus Cuthhertia) 



The pink spiderworts of Florida are often found grow- 

 ing in dry pinelands with the dew-flower, but, unlike it, 

 are slender, erect plants, with narrow, light green leaves. 



