Perennial glabrous herb; stems prostrate, often ascending at tips, rooting at nodes. Leaves ovate to narrow-ovate, 3–5.5 cm long, 1–2.5 cm wide, green above and below. Flowers pedicellate; sepals 5–7 mm long, green; petals broadly ovate to elliptic, 7–10 mm long, white; stamens free, filaments white, bearded, with numerous long, moniliform hairs attached at base of filament. (See genus description for further details). Flowers Sep.–Feb.
MuM, GleP, VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, VAlp. Widely cultivated in the eastern States, New Zealand and South Africa where sometimes escaping, particularly in damp, shaded areas.
One of its vernacular names (Wandering Jew) is the same as that used for Tradescantia zebrina Bosse (syn. Zebrina pendula Schnizl.) which is cultivated for its purple leaves.
Source:
Conn, B.J. (1994). Commelinaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 175–176. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
