atoll research bulletin no. 392 the flora of - Smithsonian Institution ...

CANNACEAE (Canna Family)
Canna indica L. "Indian shot", "canna"
Recent introduction. W. Indies. Rare. Perennial herb, to over 1 m high; leaves,
15 to 50 cm long and 10 to 25 cm wide, oval to narrow, rather fleshy, borne on long
slender erect green stems, up to 1 to 1.5 m long; flowers, orchid-like, red, yellow or
speckled (variegated), in loose erect clusters; fruit, warty, black, capsular, nearly
globose, containing a variable number of round black seeds. Planted ornamental. Most
ornamental specimens are showy hybrids or selections. 6(189), 7.
COMMELINACEAE (Dayflower Family)
Dichorisandra thyrisiflora Mikan "blue ginger"
Recent introduction. Brazil. Rare. Perennial herb up to 1 m tall; leaves, shiny-
green, spirally arranged; flowers, terminal, blue to violet-blue and white, borne on a
stalk in a cone-shaped flower panicle. Planted ornamental. 6.
Rhoeo spathacea (Sw.) Stearn " tradescantia" , "oyster plant", "Moses in a boat"
syns. Tradescantia spathacea Sw . ; T. discolor L. 'Her. ; R. discolor (L'Her.)
Hance
Recent introduction. Mexico and W. Indies. Occasional. Perennial short-stemmed
herb, up to 40 cm high; leaves, up to 20 to 30 cm long and 4 to 6 cm wide, lance- or
sword-shaped, stiff, succulent, shining green above, purplish beneath, borne in crowded
rosettes; flowers, small, white, in axillary clusters within boat-shaped purple bracts; fruit,
capsular, 3-valved. Pot plant and planted ornamental; planted along borders in ornamen-
tal gardens. 3(58703), 5, 6, 7.
Setcreasia purpurea B. K. Boom "purple tradescantia" , "purple heart"
Recent introduction. Mexico. Rare. Perennial smooth-stemmed trailing herb, up to
30 cm high; leaves, up to 1-5 cm long and 3.5 cm widel ovate-acuminate, black-purple
- -----
above and purple beneath, with woolly hairs along margins; long purple flowering stems,
up to 30 cm, bearing purple bracts and rose-pink flowers in dense clusters. Ornamental
pot plant. 3(56779), 6, 7.