Datasheet

Tradescantia zebrina (wandering jew)

Pictures Top of page Picture Title Caption Copyright Title Habit Caption Tradescantia zebrina, invasive on Gros Piton, Saint Lucia, West Indies. November, 2005. Copyright ©Roger Graveson-2005 Habit Tradescantia zebrina, invasive on Gros Piton, Saint Lucia, West Indies. November, 2005. ©Roger Graveson-2005 Title Habit, showing foliage and flowers Caption Tradescantia zebrina, showing foliage and flowers; invasive on Gros Piton, Saint Lucia, West Indies. November, 2005. Copyright ©Roger Graveson-2005 Habit, showing foliage and flowers Tradescantia zebrina, showing foliage and flowers; invasive on Gros Piton, Saint Lucia, West Indies. November, 2005. ©Roger Graveson-2005

Identity Top of page Preferred Scientific Name Tradescantia zebrina Bosse Preferred Common Name wandering jew Other Scientific Names Cyanotis vittata Lindl.

Cyanotis zebrina (Bosse) Nees (1851)

Tradescantia pendula (Schnizl.) D.R.Hunt 1981

Tradescantia zebrina Hort. ex Bosse 1849

Zebrina pendula Schnizl 1849

Zebrina purpussi G. Brückn International Common Names English: cockroach grass; inch plant; purple wandering jew; silver inch plant; striped trad; striped wandering creeper; striped wandering jew; wandering zebrina; zebra plant

cockroach grass; inch plant; purple wandering jew; silver inch plant; striped trad; striped wandering creeper; striped wandering jew; wandering zebrina; zebra plant Spanish: barbija; cañutillo; hoja de milagro

barbija; cañutillo; hoja de milagro French: misère; mizè

misère; mizè Chinese: diao zhu mei Local Common Names Brazil: judeu-errante; lambari; trapoeraba-roxa

judeu-errante; lambari; trapoeraba-roxa Cuba: cucaracha

cucaracha Dominican Republic: cucaracha

cucaracha Lesser Antilles: kakalaka

kakalaka Puerto Rico: cohitre morado; judío errante

Summary of Invasiveness Top of page A native of Mexico, T. zebrina is elsewhere a fairly common ornamental which globally has a tendency to escape into shady, moist spots. It is reported as invasive in many areas in the Pacific (PIER, 2012). Most comments suggest it forms patches in disturbed secondary forest. For example, in Hawaii, “Probably an escapee from cultivation, it is now naturalized and covers large areas of ground in secondary forest” (Lorence and Flynn, 1997). In Queensland, Australia it is reported that it has the capacity to invade natural vegetation across South-east Queensland (Biosecurity Queensland, 2012). Propagation appears to be caused by parts breaking off and washing down slopes or by human facilitation, such as trimming, sweeping or by the dumping of garden rubbish. On Gros Piton, a World Heritage Site in Saint Lucia, West Indies, it was planted at an elevation of about 500 m approximately seven years ago and has since spread several hundred metres along the trail, forming thick carpets on rocks and on the ground in moist shady native forest. It seems to spread as bits break off or are cut by trail maintenance and then swept off the trail, where they root and start a new colony. So far it has not spread far from the trail (Graveson, 2012).

Taxonomic Tree Top of page Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Spermatophyta

Subphylum: Angiospermae

Class: Monocotyledonae

Order: Commelinales

Family: Commelinaceae

Genus: Tradescantia

Species: Tradescantia zebrina

Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature Top of page Hunt (1986) changed the status of the genus Zebrina Shnizl. to a section within Tradescantia L. He stated that Zebrina pendula Schnizl. should be called Tradescantia zebrina Hort. ex Bosse or Tradescantia zebrina ex Bosse. Some publications and online databases such as the Tropicos website of the Missouri Botanical Gardens include an older name Tradescantia zebrina Heynh. The Heynhold name however lacks a valid description and is thus an invalid name (Tropicos do indicate that this name is no longer valid). Thus the correct name is either Tradescantia zebrina ex Bosse (Faden, 2008), or, according to The Plant List (2013), simply T. zebrina Bosse.

Description Top of page T. zebrina is a succulent, trailing herbaceous plant, distinguished by its paired, silvery green leaves flushed with purple on the upper surface and purple underneath, asymmetrical at the base. It has bright pink flowers with three petals. The fruit are small capsules containing greyish-brown seeds. Orchard (1994) gives the following description: Creeping and pendulous, succulent herb, rooting readily at nodes; stems, leaves and floral bracts tinged with purple-red. Leaves spaced along stem; petiole ca 2 mm long, passing into basal ciliate sheath; lamina ovate, 2-5 cm long, green tinged with purple-red, especially beneath, usually with ca 3 darker, broad, longitudinal stripes. Inflorescence terminal, of 2 short cincinni subtended closely by 2 leaf-like bracts. Petals ovate, 10-12 mm long, delicate, connate in lower half into a narrow white tube, purple-magenta. Fruit (when present) a 3-locule capsule with 1-2-seeds per capsule.

Plant Type Top of page Broadleaved

Herbaceous

Perennial

Vegetatively propagated

BroadleavedHerbaceousPerennialVegetatively propagated

Distribution Top of page T. zebrina is native to Mexico, but has been very widely introduced elsewhere as a garden ornamental. It is now present in Australia, various Pacific islands, the Caribbean, parts of Central and South America, southern USA, Tanzania and east and southeast Asia. The Distribution Table may fail to include many of the countries in which it is cultivated but not yet naturalised.

Risk of Introduction Top of page It is probable that this species is already present as a pot or garden plant in most countries. Thus it is likely to escape into the wild in most countries with a suitable climate, if it has not done so already.

Habitat Top of page A weed of waste areas, disturbed sites, roadsides, urban bushland, riparian vegetation, open woodlands and forests in sub-tropical and warmer temperate regions. As a garden plant, it is commonly found in untended areas or areas that are difficult to access (steep banks, undergrowth etc.) (Biosecurity Queensland, 2012).

Habitat List Top of page Category Sub-Category Habitat Presence Status Terrestrial Terrestrial – Managed Managed forests, plantations and orchards Present, no further details Disturbed areas Present, no further details Terrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-natural Natural forests Present, no further details Littoral Coastal areas Present, no further details

Biology and Ecology Top of page Genetics and Reproductive Biology Sakurai and Ichikawa (2001) gave the chromosome number 2n = 24, but as a garden plant T. zebrina rarely sets seed and is propagated only by cuttings (Floridata, 2012; Dave’s Garden, 2013). Environmental Requirements Dave’s Garden (2013) indicated a tolerance of US Hardiness Zones 8 to 11 and soil pH 6-8. T. zebrina prefers sun to partial shade.

Climate Top of page Climate Status Description Remark Af - Tropical rainforest climate Preferred > 60mm precipitation per month Am - Tropical monsoon climate Preferred Tropical monsoon climate ( < 60mm precipitation driest month but > (100 - [total annual precipitation(mm}/25])) As - Tropical savanna climate with dry summer Preferred < 60mm precipitation driest month (in summer) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25]) Aw - Tropical wet and dry savanna climate Preferred < 60mm precipitation driest month (in winter) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25]) Cf - Warm temperate climate, wet all year Preferred Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, wet all year Cs - Warm temperate climate with dry summer Preferred Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, dry summers Cw - Warm temperate climate with dry winter Preferred Warm temperate climate with dry winter (Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, dry winters)

Means of Movement and Dispersal Top of page Movement over long distances is legal as a commercial ornamental plant. Movement into the wild is through broken parts of stems and roots rooting and forming new colonies. This can be accidental or as a result of gardening activities such as trimming or by improper disposal of garden waste.

Impact Summary Top of page Category Impact Environment (generally) Negative

Environmental Impact Top of page Impact on Habitats While globally T. zebrina tends to grow in disturbed secondary forest and moist semi-open spots, it has become invasive in a World Heritage Site in Saint Lucia on the middle slopes of Gros Piton. Here it forms carpets on large rocks and the ground between, in seasonally semi-open native deciduous seasonal forest. Its main populations are close to the main trail to the summit. Impact on Biodiversity As it forms carpets, T. zebrina replaces indigenous species such as Peperomia trifolia, Callisia repens, P. myrtifolia and Gibasis geniculata (Graveson, 2012).

Social Impact Top of page Contact with the foliage can cause skin irritation (Floridata, 2012; Dave’s Garden, 2013). Globally there is little information, except for Saint Lucia, where The Gros Piton trail is an important source of income to the Fonds Gens Libres community. It is conceivable that if T. zebrina comes to dominate the ground cover in the middle elevations, the publicity given to that might impact negatively on tourist numbers. Tourism income from guided tours will have to be used to fund eradication, which is a financial cost to the community.

Risk and Impact Factors Top of page Invasiveness Proved invasive outside its native range

Tolerant of shade

Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)

Long lived

Fast growing

Gregarious

Reproduces asexually Impact outcomes Monoculture formation

Negatively impacts forestry

Negatively impacts tourism

Reduced native biodiversity

Threat to/ loss of native species Impact mechanisms Causes allergic responses

Competition - monopolizing resources

Competition - smothering

Rapid growth

Rooting Likelihood of entry/control Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately

Uses List Top of page Environmental Amenity

Erosion control or dune stabilization General Botanical garden/zoo Medicinal, pharmaceutical Source of medicine/pharmaceutical

Traditional/folklore Ornamental Potted plant

Propagation material

Similarities to Other Species/Conditions Top of page T. zebrina is relatively similar to T. fluminensis, Commelina diffusa and C. benghalensis. T. fluminensis is distinguished by its alternate glossy green symmetrical leaves that are mostly hairless, and has white flowers. C. diffusa has dull green leaves that are relatively thin, and flowers that are usually bright blue. C. benghalensis has dull green leaves that are hairy, and usually bright blue flowers with rounded petals.

Prevention and Control Top of page Due to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label. Despite T. zebrina being reported as invasive in many Pacific Islands, little information is available on its prevention and control. It may be that its impact is not major enough to warrant prevention and control measures. Prevention SPS measures Prohibition of planting as an ornamental in high-risk areas would be a useful measure. Early warning systems This species is extremely well-known and easy to spot in the wild. If reported early, the patch can readily be physically removed. Thus public awareness in high risk areas will aid in preventing this species from establishing itself in the wild. Eradication The following guidelines are given by Biosecurity Queensland (2012) for eradication in north Queensland, where it is regarded as an invasive environmental weed. “Zebrina can reproduce and spread from single pieces of stem or root fragments. Careful handpulling is required in order to be certain to remove all stem and root fragments from the soil. Regular mowing can be effective, but a catcher should be used to prevent the spread of stem pieces. Be sure to dispose of the plant carefully, by allowing it to rot in a sealed black plastic bag for one week before placing it in a refuse bin. Zebrina is not suitable for composting or dumping in a ‘green waste’ section of a refuse station." Containment/Zoning Techniques suitable for eradication will also be appropriate for containment where complete eradication is not possible. Control Physical/mechanical control Hand pulling of small areas of infestation is possible. However re-growth may take place from small pieces of stems and roots. Movement control Planting in areas where there is a high risk of spread into native forest should be discouraged. Chemical control Larger areas of infestation need herbicide spraying with follow-up spraying for re-growth. Suggested herbicide spray is fluroxypyr (200 g/L, at a rate of 500 mL to 1 L per 100 L water) (Biosecurity Queensland, 2012). Triclopyr is used for the control of the related T. fluminensis (Hill, 2013).

Gaps in Knowledge/Research Needs Top of page A pilot scheme is required to look into details of a protocol for eradication, involving a mix of physical and chemical measures. Research is required to investigate if T. zebrina carpets change soil conditions in a manner which might affect tree seedlings.

Organizations Top of page USA: PIER (Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk), University of Hawaii, Honolulu, http://www.hear.org/pier/index.html

Contributors Top of page 13/6/2012 Original text by: Roger Graveson, Box 2074, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, West Indies. 17/07/13 Updated by: Julissa Rojas-Sandoval, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA

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