TRADESCAN'TIA CONGESTA. 
CLOSE-FLOWERED SPIDER-WORT. 
Class. Order. 
IIEXANDRIA. MONOGYSIA. 
Natural Order. 
COMMBLINE*. 
Native of 
Hcio'ht. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introdueed 
N..4merica. 
15 indies. 
June, .4iig. 
Perennial. 
in 1825. 
No. 363. 
The name, Tradescantia, is very properly applied 
to this handsome genus of plants, in commemoration 
of the two individuals, father and son, named John 
Tradescant. Congesta, from the Latin, signifying 
heaped together, in allusion to the flowers. 
The elder of the Tradescants was, probably, the 
first individual who collected any considerable quan- 
tity of specimens in natural history, worthy of being 
called a Museum. It was known by the title Tra- 
descant’s Ark ; and was not only visited by royalty 
and the principal nobility of his day, but also much 
enriched by their liberality. The younger Trades- 
cant bequeathed it to Mr. Elias Ashmole, who sub- 
sequently presented it to the University of Oxford. 
Thus, Tradescant’s Ark was the foundation of the 
Ashraolean Museum in that university. 
The Tradescantia congesta is nearly allied to the 
more common species, the Tradescantia Virginica, 
both of which are desirable plants in the mingled 
flower garden. Though their flowers are but the 
gaiety of a day, still every day has its supply, and 
the plant is, consecjuently, always showy. It may be 
divided for increase, and needs no peculiar soil. 
D. Don MSS. 
