28.
Tradescantia pallida
(Rose) D. R. Hunt, Kew Bull. 30: 452. 1975.
Setcreasea pallida Rose, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 13: 294. 1911; S. purpurea Boom
Herbs, perennial, succulent. Stems suffused with purplish violet. Leaves spirally arranged; blade not variegated, suffused with purplish violet, lanceolate-oblong to oblong-elliptic, (4--)7--15 ´ 1.5--3 cm (distal leaf blades wider or narrower than sheaths when sheaths opened, flattened), base symmetric, rounded to broadly cuneate, margins ciliate or ciliolate, apex acute, glabrous or glabrescent. Inflorescences terminal, often becoming leaf-opposed, pedunculate; peduncles (3.5--)4--13 cm; bracts similar to leaves but usually greatly reduced. Flowers subsessile; pedicels 4--9 mm, densely white-pilose at summit; sepals distinct, 7--10 mm, pilose basally; petals ± connate at base, pink, clawed, 1.5--2 cm; stamens epipetalous; filaments very sparsely bearded. Capsules 3.5 mm, glabrous. Seeds 2.5--3 mm. 2n = 24 (Mexico).
Flowering summer--fall. Landfill and old home sites; introduced; Fla., La.; native, Mexico.
