4 TRADESCANTIA VIRGINICA. SPIDERWORT. 



The western boundary for the " Spiderwort " seems to be formed 

 by the Rocky Mountains. The writer has found it on the foot- 

 hills near Pike's Peak, and it is reported to have been met with 

 in higher elevations. Its chief home appears to be from Florida 

 northwestward, not favoring much the New England States. 

 It varies very much in its choice of location. In the East, we 

 usually find it in low meadows, — even some that are quite 

 wet, — among the grass. On the prairies, it is found in much 

 drier places as a rule ; while, in Colorado, I have found it in dry 

 sand, and one would almost class it there with plants which love 

 aridity. It is rare that we find such a happy disposition among 

 vegetable beings. 



Explanation of the Plate. — i. The most common form found in Kansas. — 2. Smooth 

 form (leaf from a flower stem). — 3. Varieties of color. — 4. Base of the plant, with 

 fibrous roots. 



