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tradescantia

British  
/ ˌtrædɛsˈkænʃɪə /

noun

  1. any plant of the American genus Tradescantia , widely cultivated for their striped variegated leaves: family Commelinaceae See also wandering Jew spiderwort

"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

Etymology

Origin of tradescantia

C18: New Latin, named after John Tradescant (1570–1638), English botanist and gardener

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After Denker drew up plans, Dominguez installed a drip irrigation system and Denker began planting 1-gallon containers of rosemary, purple tradescantia pallida, lantana and senecio.

From Los Angeles Times

We had a question recently from a listener who had planted a tradescantia in a bottle garden in 1960.

From The Guardian

Other forbs noted often enough to be considered common on both House Field and Quarry Field included Carex gravida, observed frequently in House Field and less often in Quarry Field; Amorpha canescens, more common in Quarry Field; Tradescantia bracteata, Capsella bursapastoris, Oxalis violacea, Euphorbia marginata, Convolvulus arvensis, Lithospermum arvense, Teucrium canadense, Physalis longifolia, Phytolacca americana, Plantago major, Ambrosia trifida, A. artemisiifolia, Helianthus annuus, Cirsium altissimum and Taraxacum erythrospermum.

From Project Gutenberg

A name given it in a cottage garden in Wayland was Blue Spider-flower, which seems more suited than that of Spiderwort for the Tradescantia.

From Project Gutenberg

Spī′derling, a young spider; Spī′der-mon′key, an American platyrrine monkey, with long slender legs and tail; Spī′der-stitch, a stitch in lace or netting in which threads are carried diagonally and parallel to each other; Spī′der-wasp, a pompilid wasp which fills its nest with spiders for its young; Spī′der-web, the snare spun by the spider; Spī′der-wheel, in embroidery, a circular pattern with radiating lines; Spī′der-work, lace worked by spider-stitch; Spī′der-wort, any plant of the genus Tradescantia, esp.

From Project Gutenberg