34 



TRADESCANTIA irid'escens 

 Iridescent Tradescantia. 



HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

 Nat. ord. Commelinace^. 

 TRADESCANTIA. Botanical Register, vol. \\. foL 482. 



T. iridescens; acaulis, radicibus carnosis, foliis oblongis acntis coiicavis glabiis 

 ciliatis subtus pilosis, umbellis laxis terminalibus sessilibus, pelalis obo- 

 vatis staminibus triplo longioribus. Bot. Reg. 1838, misc. no.. ICO. 



A detailed description of this very pretty greenhouse 

 perennial will be found at page 8G 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. 



