Tradescantia Spathacea Sw.
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Tradescantia Spathacea Sw.
Tradescantia Spathacea Sw.
| Family Name: | Commelinaceae |
| Synonyms: | Rhoeo discolor, Tradescantia discolor, Rhoeo spathacea |
| Common Name: | Boat Lily, Oyster Plant, Cradle Lily, Moses-in-the-Cradle, Moses in His Cradle, Moses on a Raft, Moses in the Bulrushes, Men in a Boat, 蚌花, 紫背万年青, 荷包花 |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Semi-epiphytic herbaceous plant with underground rhizomes and clumping rosette form. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves long and sword-shaped, dark teal green on top, vivid purple on underside, waxy and fleshy. |
| Stems | Trunk-like, short and stout, nearly hidden by overlapping leaves. |
| Flowers | Flowers small, white, nestled in purple boat-shaped bracts, produced whole year round at leaf axils. |
| Fruit | Fruits are capsules with 2 seeds. |
| Cultivation | Provide good drainage to prevent root rot. Propagate by stem-cuttings, seeds or division. Watery sap may result in skin stinging and itching in sensitive individuals or animals. Plant should not be eaten raw, as sap can cause burning pain in mouth and throat. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Tradescantia' named after John Tradescant, gardener for King Charles I of England. Species epithet 'spathacea' means 'with a spathe', describing the spathe-like bract holding the flowers. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves Food (Herb or Spice) Medicinal: Scientific Evidence of Medicinal Properties In pre-clinical trials, Boat Lily showed anti-cancer (Rosales-Reyes et al., 2008), anti-diabetic (Jesetti et al., 2020) and anti-inflammation (Pérez et al., 1996) in animals. Traditional Medicinal Uses Research supports the traditional use of Boat Lily to treat cough, bronchitis and sprains. Other traditional uses include treating fever, amenorrhea, headache and rheumatism. It is important to note that some therapeutic effects from traditional medicinal uses of plants are not currently supported or verified by scientific research. Caution: Astringent sap may cause stinging and itching in susceptible individuals and animals. Do not eat the plant raw, as sap may cause mouth and throat pain. |
Full Sun
Semi Shade
Moderate Water
Herb or Spice
Indoor Plant
Suitable for Rooftops
Ornamental Leaves
Drought Tolerant
Shallow Media
Creeper
Herbaceous Plant