Tradescantia sect. Campelia (Rich.) D.R.Hunt, Kew Bull. 41(2): 404. 1986.

Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Forzza, Rafaela C. & Sakuragui, Cassia M., 2017, Novelties in Brazilian Tradescantia L. (Commelinaceae), PhytoKeys 80, pp. 1-31 : 8-9

Tradescantia sect. Campelia (Rich.) D.R.Hunt, Kew Bull. 41(2): 404. 1986. Fig. 4

Diagnosis.

The section is characterized by perennial herbs, with thin fibrous roots, definite base, without rhizomes, leaves with symmetric or slightly asymmetric base, inflorescences axillary, pedunculate, cincinni bracts spathaceous, bracteoles conspicuous and linear, flowers tubular, sepals unequal, basally conate, not keeled, petals free, shortly-clawed, stamens 6 and subequal, free, filaments straight at post anthesis, medially sparsely bearded with moniliform hairs, connectives sagittate, anther sacs round, ovary glabrous, stigma capitate, seeds smooth to faintly rugose, embryotega inconspicuous and semilateral (Hunt 1986; Pellegrini 2015).

Comments.

Tradescantia sect. Campelia is monospecific and represented by T. zanonia (L.) Sw. It was considered by Hunt (1986) to be unique within the genus due to its fleshy pedicel and sepals covering the capsule, giving the fruit a berry-like appearance, which is consumed by birds and other small animals (Hunt 1986; Pellegrini, pers. obs.). Nonetheless, the morphological similarity to Tradescantia sect. Zebrina is indisputable, as pointed out by Hunt (1986) and here reaffirmed by us. Tradescantia sect. Zebrina is highly variable in the following characters: (1) the position of the inflorescence; (2) if it perforates the leaf-sheaths or not; (3) the degree of conation between the sepals, the petals; and (4) the degree of connation between the petals and stamens. Thus, both sections are distinguished solely based on the consistency of their calyx (Pellegrini, pers. obs.).

Figures

Figure 4. Tradescantia zanonia (L.) Sw. A habit, showing the axillary inflorescences perforating the leaf-sheaths B detail of the leaf-sheath C detail of the inflorescence, showing the spathaceous, saccate cincinni bracts, geniculate flowers, and basally conate sepals D side view of a flower, showing the shallowly-tubular flower, subequal stamens, sagittate connectives, round anther sacs, and trilobate stigma E detail of a branched synflorescence, bearing berry-like fruits. Photograph A by A. P. Maceda, B by P. Schwirkowski, C-E by M. O. O. Pellegrini.