SPIDERWORT FAMILY 
(C ommelinacece) 
(A) Day-flower (Gommelina communis) is one of a 
very few of our native plants having pure blue flowers. 
Each blossom lasts but a single day. 
The stem is rather weak, much jointed and attains 
heights of one to two feet. Two petals are large, 
rounded and blue, while the third is tiny and color¬ 
less; the whole flower peeps out from a clasping, cor¬ 
date, heart-shaped leaf or spathe. Found from South¬ 
ern Mass, to Mich, and southwards, blooming in rich 
woods or dooryards from June to Sept. 
(B) Spiderwort; Job’s Tears (Tradescantia vir- 
giniana ), like the Day Flower, remains open but for 
part of a day, after which the petals contract into 
glutinous drops. 
The stem is hairy and sticky; from one to two feet 
high. Three purple petals, three brown, hairy sepals 
and six orange tipped stamens compose the flowers. 
They may be found in rich soil from Me. to Mich, and 
southwards, flowering from June to August. 
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