VIRGINIA SPIDERWORT 



Tradescantia virginiana Linnaeus 



The Virginia spiderwort loves the rich borders of woods and thickets, 

 and is loveliest in the morning, when its blue petals open wide, showing 

 the golden anthers in sharp contrast. The plant continues in bloom for 

 some time, new flowers opening each morning, and enticing the bees 

 to a fresh feast of nectar. These insect visitors are necessary to cross- 

 fertilization, and carry from one blossom to the next a heavy load of 

 pollen. 



The genus is named for John Tradescant, gardener to King Charles I 

 of England, and belongs in the same family as the dayflower. This and 

 the Pickerelweed Family are closely related. 



The Virginia spiderwort may be found from Virginia to Arkansas, 

 northward to South Dakota and southern New York. 



The specimen sketched grew near^shin gton, District of Columbia. 



PLATE 40 



