TRADESCAX'TIA YIRGIN'ICA. 
VIRGINIAN SPIDERWORT. 
Class. Order. 
ilEXANDRIA. >IONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
CO.MMELINACE^. 
Native of I Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
N. America 18 inclies. 
May, Oct. 
Perennial. 
in 1629. 
No. 1029. 
Every lover of natural hi.story should cultivate 
the Tradescantia, that he may be reminded of John 
Tradescant, after whom it is named. Tradescant's 
enthusiasm as a naturalist, was far in advance of 
the age in which he lived. He collected the works 
of both nature and art ; and formed, at Lambeth, 
in the reign of Charles T, a museum that was 
usually known as Tradescant’s Ark. It e.vcited 
the admiration of some — perhaps the ridicule of 
others. This he left to his son, who increased it 
considerably, and bequeathed it to Mr. Ashmole — 
a man of highly cultivated mind. Here we see 
the establishment of the first public institution of 
the sort — the Ashmolean Museum, at Oxford; for 
to this university Mr. Ashmole presented it, with 
various valuable additions; which have been fur- 
ther added to by subsequent scientific donors. 
This double-flowering variety of rose-coloured 
Tradescantia Virginica is a pretty plant for the 
parterre. It is equally as hardy and free-flowering 
as the better known blue-flowering Spiderwort. 
Although double, it will ripen seeds, from which 
single-flowered plants will spontaneously spring up. 
2 . 58 . 
