Re: Trandescantia??? identify if poss?

Hi Maria -

I think that the plant you're talking about might be Spironema fragrans (it has several synonyms: Callisia fragrans, Rectanthera fragrans, Tradescantia dracaenoides). This is a true 'pass-along' plant - since it makes numerous new little plantlets of runners, people are always giving them to their friends, or selling them events such as where you bought yours (as a teenager, I found my first Spironema at a church fund-raising bazaar). This plant is actually on various invasive lists for tropical or moist sub-tropical climates. I've had it survive an occasional winter out of doors here in the Bay Area of California, but with our dry summers, I would be shocked if it ever showed invasive potential. Here are some images on the web of this plant:
http://www.washjeff.edu/greenhouse/Cfragrans/ (a web page with photo & information)
http://www.only-zuul.com/porch_plant1.jpg (in a hanging pot)
http://hortiplex.gardenweb.com/plants/jour/p/43/gw1006643/260191984425177.jpeg (large image)

An interesting plant, to be sure. It always drew attention from even the more 'non-plant-types' when I grew it!

Regards,
Seán O.

At 06:04 AM 12/6/2003, you wrote:
Hi everyone,
Another query.
The plant is single rosette on single stalk, mid green leaves with narrow band of red/purple at leaf edge about 2 inches at its widest. (It looks like a bromeliad!!) It has a couple of runners/stems about 6" long at present growing from main stem.
I got it recently at a garden fair, nobody knew what it is. Is it a broad leafed tradescantia or ....... Any ideas from my limited
description.
Thanks, Maria
Zone 9, Spain.
h o r t u l u s   a p t u s     -    'a garden suited to its purpose'
Seán A. O'Hara   sean@support.net   www.hortulusaptus.com
1034A Virginia Street, Berkeley, California 94710-1853, U.S.A.
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