Buckley's spiderwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buckley's spiderwort |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tradescantia
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| Species: |
buckleyi
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Tradescantia buckleyi, often called Buckley's spiderwort, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the dayflower family, known as Commelinaceae. This plant naturally grows in southern Texas in the United States. You can also find it in northern Tamaulipas, a state in Mexico. It was named after Samuel Botsford Buckley (1809-1884). He was the first person to collect a sample of this plant near Corpus Christi, Texas.
Contents
What Does Buckley's Spiderwort Look Like?
Buckley's spiderwort is a perennial plant, which means it lives for many years. It has stems that trail along the ground and branch out. These stems can grow up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) long.
Leaves and Roots
The leaves of this plant are thick and juicy, like a succulent. They are shaped like an oval and grow in a spiral pattern around the stem. Each leaf can be up to 12 centimeters long and 3.5 centimeters wide. Their color can be dark green or even a bit purplish. The plant's roots are tuberous, meaning they are thick and swollen, like small potatoes. They grow in clumps, and new roots can even form along the stems.
Flowers and Blooming Season
The flowers grow at the ends of the stems. They are on stalks that are 3 to 5.5 centimeters long. Small, leaf-like structures called bracts are found near the flowers. The flowers themselves are pale pink to white. Each petal is about 1 centimeter long and has a narrow base, forming a small tube. Inside the flower, you'll find stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. These stamens have fuzzy filaments and bright orange tips. The plant usually blooms from February to May.
Fruits and Seeds
After blooming, the plant produces small, round fruits called capsules. These capsules are about 3.5 millimeters across. Inside each capsule, there are seeds that measure 2 to 3 millimeters. The plant is mostly smooth, but its capsules are fuzzy. The sepals (small leaf-like parts protecting the flower bud) are slightly hairy, and the flower stalks also have a few hairs.
