Appearance
"Tradescantia fluminensis" is a perennial groundcover that spreads along the ground with soft, hairless stems and leaves. The fleshy stems root at any node that is on the surface. The plant has oval, dark-green leaves with pointed tips that are shiny, smooth and slightly fleshy about 1.25–2.5 inches long.The white flowers are terminal, sometimes opposite a leaf, and are on a 1.5 cm long stem. The flowers have three petals and approx. 0.5–1 inch in diameter. The sepals are 5–7 mm in size. The three white petals are 8–9 mm in size. The anthers are detached. The flowers are produced in small clusters in summer and the flowers can make several seeds.
Naming
The genus is named after the English naturalists and explorers John Tradescant the Elder and John Tradescant the Younger.The Latin specific epithet "fluminensis" refers to those born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The common name wandering Jew refers both to the wandering habit of several species within "Tradescantia", and also to a character from early Christian mythology.
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