Plant · GBIF taxon 2765156
Rio Spiderwort
Tradescantia fluminensisAlso known as Small-Leaf Spiderwort, River Spiderwort, Speedy Henry, Wandering Willie
Rio Spiderwort forms dense, lush groundcover across damp forest floors and shaded riverbanks. Succulent stems root effortlessly at every node, allowing small broken fragments to rapidly clone into broad carpeted mats. Three delicate white triangular petals bloom at stem tips during warmer months, attracting small pollinators.
InvasiveGroundcoverFlowering
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Snails
- Slugs
- Caterpillars
ThreatsPhysical clearing, targeted herbicides, shade canopy loss
HabitatsRainforest understories, riverbanks, damp disturbed woods, shaded gardens
Life spanPerennial
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderCommelinales
- FamilyCommelinaceae
- GenusTradescantia
- SpeciesTradescantia fluminensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Sap can cause contact skin irritation in pets and sensitive humans; wear gloves when handling.
- Why it is dangerous
- Plant sap contains calcium oxalate crystals and irritating compounds that trigger contact dermatitis and itching in dogs and humans.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognize trailing fleshy stems with shiny oval green leaves and small white flowers with three triangular petals.
- What to do
- Wear thick gardening gloves when clearing vines, and keep domestic pets away from dense stands.
Responsible observation
- Stem disposal: Bag and throw away all stem pieces in household waste to prevent unwanted spreading.
- Safe handling: Wear gloves when pulling or trimming to protect skin from irritating sap.
- Observation: Inspect flower centers closely to see six hairy stamens topped with yellow anthers.
Close Relative (c) Ricard Busquets Reverte, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ricard Busquets Reverte · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Fethullah ÖZTÜRK, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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