Wandering Jew
Tradescantia fluminensis, Fam. Commelinaceae
Weak perennial herbs with trailing to semi-erect, easily broken fleshy stems; readily rooting at the nodes and forming large dense ground covers.
| Weed Category: |
Other invasive plants Invasive plants that are not prohibited or restricted invasive plants, but are known to spread readily and cause negative impacts, within the region.
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| Weed: | Yes |
| Form or habit: | Herb |
| Family: | Commelinaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Alternate Simple, alternate ovate-elliptic with hairy tubular stem-sheathing bases. Shiny deep green, 30-60mm long. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
White |
| Flower description: | White, three petalled, approximately 12mm wide, borne in groups, more-or-less partially enclosed by 2 or 3 leaf-like bracts. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Unknown |
| Fruit colour: | |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Capsules, but not produced in Australia. |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | South America, Mexico and central America |
| Notes: | Spread by: vegetative fragments in garden waste, water, contaminated soil. All plant material able to grow. Invades/threats: open forests, disturbed creek bank communities, rainforest understorey, moist shady gullies, roadsides and unmanaged land. Notes: garden escapees that can dominate the ground layer over extensive areas. Two species are naturalised in the region. Should not be confused with native commelinas (Commelina spp.) that have bright blue flowers with 2 or 3 perfect stamens, as opposed to Tradescantia that have 6 perfect stamens. Commelinas generally prefer fairly sunny positions and generally don’t grow in deep shade. Environmental weed. |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |
