Tradescantia fluminensis
Commelinaceae
Very Common
Wandering Sailor or Trad is a prostrate, succulent
creeper that roots at the nodes and is highly invasive
on moist sites. It spreads readily by vegetative means;
the smallest piece left on the ground may regrow. The
leaves are ovate-lanceolate, hairless and up to 5 cm by
2 cm. The white flowers appear in inflorescences of up
to 20 individual flowers. Note that the similar-looking
blue flowered plant is the native Commelina cyanea.
