Moses-in-the-cradle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Moses-in-the-cradle
• boat-lily
• oysterplant
• Moses-in-the-basket
• boat lily
• Oyster-plant

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rhoeo discolor
• Rhoeo spathacea
• Rhoeo spathacea f. variegata
• Tradescantia odoratissima
• Tradescantia versicolor
• Tradescantia discolor var. lineata
• Rhoeo spathacea f. concolor
• Ephemerum bicolor
• Tradescantia discolor var. vittata
• Tradescantia discolor var. concolor
• Tradescantia discolor var. variegata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Commelinales, placing it in the family Commelinaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is established within the genus Tradescantia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several tropical regions. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found in Gambia. Moving toward East Tropical Africa, the species is documented in Tanzania. Its presence is also notable throughout the Western Indian Ocean, specifically within the Comoros and the Seychelles. Finally, this medicinal plant extends its reach to the remote Chagos Archipelago.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tradescantia spathacea is defined by its high degree of adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, primarily functioning as a resilient understory species. Its preferred habitat consists of moist, shaded to semi-shaded areas, often found in tropical and subtropical forest floors, along riverbanks, and in disturbed woodland margins where moisture is relatively consistent. While it thrives in high-humidity environments, it exhibits significant tolerance to varying light intensities, ranging from deep shade to filtered sunlight. The plant is highly efficient at colonizing disturbed sites and can tolerate a variety of soil types, provided they retain some moisture, though it often struggles in strictly arid or extremely waterlogged conditions. Due to its vigorous creeping growth habit and ability to form dense mats, it can alter local microhabitats by suppressing native groundcover, effectively competing for space and light in its established ecological niche.

Habitat :

(?)

Life history

The life history of Tradescantia spathacea is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its ecological classification and growth habit, it is categorized as a chamaephyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located close to the soil surface. This growth strategy enables the plant to maintain stability and recover effectively across various environmental conditions throughout its extended lifespan.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Tradescantia spathacea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, typically reaching a maximum plant height of 0.6 m. As a terrestrial species, it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a self-supporting habit without the need for climbing structures such as lianas or vines. Its physical structure is primarily that of a fleshy, non-woody herb, allowing it to thrive in various habitats ranging from terrestrial to semiaquatic environments.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tradescantia spathacea is characterized by its specific vegetative morphology and structural adaptations, particularly regarding its foliage. The leaves exhibit a distinct size range, with lengths typically spanning from a minimum of 15 cm to a maximum of 35 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2.5 cm and a maximum of 4.5 cm, providing a substantial surface area for photosynthetic activity. Despite the robust appearance of its foliage, the plant does not exhibit succulence, indicating that its water storage mechanisms are not concentrated within the fleshy tissue of the leaves, distinguishing its physiological water management from true succulent species.

Leaf length max:

35 cm

Leaf length min:

15 cm

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tradescantia spathacea is characterized by the development of a fruit type classified as a capsule, which contains the seeds necessary for the continuation of the species. Upon reaching maturity, the fruit is dehiscent, meaning it undergoes a natural splitting process to release its contents. The dispersal of these seeds involves multiple mechanisms; the plant exhibits an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, relying on general environmental factors, while also being subject to anthropochorous dispersal, where human activities facilitate the movement of the plant to new locations.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit type :

capsule

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Tradescantia spathacea has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Tropical biomedicine

Chemicals

Tradescantia spathacea has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, CHLOROFORM, DODECANOIC ACID, Distilled water, ETHYL ACETATE.

Anthocyanins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CHLOROFORM

1. Tropical biomedicine

DODECANOIC ACID

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Distilled water

1. Tropical biomedicine

ETHYL ACETATE

1. Tropical biomedicine

HEPTANOIC ACID

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

HEXANE

1. Tropical biomedicine

NONANOIC ACID

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Nonaldehyde

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

beta-Glucan

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Tradescantia spathacea has 33 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiapoptotic, Antiarthritic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinogenic.

Antiapoptotic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiarthritic

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anticollegenase

1. Dr. Duke

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke

Antielastase

1. Dr. Duke

Antihyperglycemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antihyperinsulinemic

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations