spiderwort

[spahy-der-wurt, -wawrt]

noun

any plant of the genus Tradescantia, having blue, purple, or rose-colored flowers.

any of several related plants.

Origin of spiderwort

First recorded in 1590–1600; spider + wort²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for spiderwort

Historical Examples of spiderwort

There are four families of the order, the spiderwort belonging to the highest one, Commelyneæ.
Elements of Structural and Systematic Botany
Douglas Houghton Campbell
The spiderwort was a rich blue with its two large petals rounded, while the third one was tiny and colorless.
Girl Scouts in the Adirondacks
Lillian Elizabeth Roy
Among the best for this purpose are the spiderwort (Tradescantia) and Scilla.
Elements of Structural and Systematic Botany
Douglas Houghton Campbell

British Dictionary definitions for spiderwort

spiderwort

noun

any of various plants of the American genus Tradescantia, esp T. virginiana, having blue, purplish, or pink flowers and widely grown as house plants: family CommelinaceaeSee also tradescantia

any of various similar or related plants

Word Origin for spiderwort

C17: so called because of the spidery shape of its stamens

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012