Galapagos Species Database

Taxon category: Accepted

Syn.: Tradescantia albiflora Kunth

Origin: Introduced - established

Year of first record: 1985

Year of introduction: 1972

Mode of introduction: Intentional

Introduction Pathway: Intentional

Subpathway: Agriculture/Horticulture

Introduced status: Naturalized

Invasive status: Invasive

Impact in Galapagos: This species often colonizes areas where blackberry control has been carried out. It also grows under all forest canopies.

Impact elsewhere: This species forms dense ground cover, smothering many native plants in humid areas. It also prevents germination through ground coverage.

Control History in Galapagos: The species is not controlled in Galapagos, partly because it is easily confused with the native Commelina diffusa (which has a blue flower)

Control methods elsewhere: Physical: manual removal, raking or rolling or solarization using plastic sheeting. Large infestations are extremely difficult to eradicate by hand (McCluggage, 1998). Chemical: Application of the herbicide paraquat is effective in controlling infestations. Regrowth should be re-treated with follow-up applications. Other herbicides which have been used to control small-leaf spiderwort include: amitrol, glyphosate, metsulfuron methyl, and picloram (McCluggage, 1998).

Known Pest elsewhere: Widespread

Habitat preferences: Small-leaf spiderwort grows in damp shady areas of forest canopy, gullies, and riparian zones (stream and river banks). Often occurs close to human habitation.

Trophic role: Primary producer

Reproduction mode: Predominantly asexual

Reproductive biology: May disperse via seeds or vegetatively via broken stem or root pieces which are capable of re-rooting.

Growth form: Perennial Herbs

Distribution origin: South America (Argentina, Brazil, Uraguay)

Economic Use: Used as an ornamental houseplant.

Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.

Distribution: Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela; originally from South America (Argentina, Brazil, Uraguay). Present in gardens and is spreading in the National Park and agricultural zone.

• Adsersen, H. (s.a.) Personal observations Charles Darwin Research Station, unpublished Manuscript.
• Flores, E. (1985) Censo de Plantas Introducidas desde el Canal de Itabaca hasta Puerto Ayora. Tesis de Ingeniero Forestal, Univ. Técnica Luis Vargas Torres, Esmeraldas: 1-132.
• Tropicos.org. (2017) Database of Missouri Botanical Garden. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 06 Oct 2017 <http://www.tropicos.org
• Zuloaga, F.O. Morrone, O., Belgrano, M.J., Marticorena, C. & Marchesi, E. (2008) Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares del Cono Sur (Argentina, Sur de Brasil, Chile, Paraguay y Urugray). Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 107(1): i–xcvi, 1–983; 107(2): i–xx, 985–2286; 107(3): i–xxi, 2287–3348.
• Jørgensen, P.M. Nee, M. & Beck, S. G. (2010) Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de Bolivia. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard.
• McCluggage, T. (1998) Herbicide trials on Tradescantia fluminensis Conservation Advisory Science Notes: 180. Wellington, New Zealand Department of Conservation
• Blake, S. Wikelski, M., Cabrera, F., Guézou, A., Silva, M., Sadeghayobi, E., Yackulik, C. & Jaramillo, P. (2011) Gardeners of Galapagos? Seed dispersal by giant tortoises. Journal of Biogeography (submission): 1-41.
• Guézou, A. Trueman, M., Buddenhagen, E., Chamorro, S., Guerrero, A.M., Pozo, P., Atkinson, R. (2010) An extensive Alien Plan Inventory from the Inhabited Areas of Galapagos Plos One/ www.plosone.org. Volume 5/ Issue 4/e10276