White Flowered White Flowered Wandering JewWandering JewTradescantia fluminensis Tradescantia fluminensis

(Vell.) Commelinaceae(Vell.) Commelinaceae

Biology Biology • Native to tropical South AmericaNative to tropical South America• Introduced as an ornamentalIntroduced as an ornamental

– Variable foliage typesVariable foliage types– Ease of propagationEase of propagation

• Spread vegetatively thru stolon Spread vegetatively thru stolon fragmentation and sexually from fragmentation and sexually from seedsseeds

• Member of the dayflower familyMember of the dayflower family

Distribution & ImpactsDistribution & Impacts

• Generally found in north central Florida, Generally found in north central Florida, but also infestations throughout but also infestations throughout – Generally as a direct escape from cultivationGenerally as a direct escape from cultivation

• Category 1 exotic invasive (FLEPPC)Category 1 exotic invasive (FLEPPC)

• Floodplain forests and bottomlands, moist Floodplain forests and bottomlands, moist hammockshammocks

• Forms a dense groundcoverForms a dense groundcover

• Smothers native understory vegetationSmothers native understory vegetation

White Flowered Wandering Jew White Flowered Wandering Jew Distribution in FloridaDistribution in Florida

IdentificationIdentification

Mature PlantMature Plant• Creeping, multi-Creeping, multi-

branching, branching, succulent plantsucculent plant

• Perennial, Perennial, vegetative vegetative reproduction from reproduction from creeping stolonscreeping stolons

• Grows 1 to 2 feet in Grows 1 to 2 feet in heightheight

LeavesLeaves• Alternate arrangementAlternate arrangement

• Lanceolate shaped, 2 Lanceolate shaped, 2 inches longinches long

• Slight pubescenceSlight pubescence

• Parallel veination with Parallel veination with prominent recessed prominent recessed midveinmidvein

• Maybe tinged with Maybe tinged with purplepurple

FlowersFlowers• Flowers occur in Flowers occur in

small clusters at small clusters at the tip of the stemthe tip of the stem

• 3 petals3 petals

• Fruit are small, 3 Fruit are small, 3 parted capsulesparted capsules

• Seeds are black Seeds are black and pittedand pitted

ManagementManagementPreventativePreventative

CulturalCultural

MechanicalMechanical

BiologicalBiological

ChemicalChemical

PreventativePreventative1.1. Limit planting as an ornamentalLimit planting as an ornamental

2.2. Remove existing plants, including Remove existing plants, including resprouts and before seeds are resprouts and before seeds are producedproduced

3.3. Avoid mechanical disturbance in Avoid mechanical disturbance in forested areas – logging, rouging, etc. forested areas – logging, rouging, etc. where this plant is presentwhere this plant is present

Spread from cut piecesSpread from cut pieces

CulturalCultural1.1. Alternative landscape plants to Alternative landscape plants to

replace white flowered wandering jewreplace white flowered wandering jew

2.2. Programs to educate homeowners Programs to educate homeowners about the problems associated with about the problems associated with this plant and proper identificationthis plant and proper identification

3.3. Maintain good ground cover and Maintain good ground cover and mixture of plant species to reduce mixture of plant species to reduce establishmentestablishment

BiologicalBiological1.1. There are no known biological control There are no known biological control

agents available for white flowered agents available for white flowered wandering jew management in Florida wandering jew management in Florida or the southeastern U.S.or the southeastern U.S.

MechanicalMechanical1.1. Hand pull young seedlings, including Hand pull young seedlings, including

all stolons, repeated pulling for all stolons, repeated pulling for resproutsresprouts

2.2. Mowing or cutting is ineffective, as the Mowing or cutting is ineffective, as the plant will regrow from stem cuttings –plant will regrow from stem cuttings –may actually spread the plant through may actually spread the plant through fragmentationfragmentation

ChemicalChemical1.1. Over-the-top applications of Over-the-top applications of

glyphosate at 2 to 3% solution or glyphosate at 2 to 3% solution or triclopyr at 1 to 2% solution plus triclopyr at 1 to 2% solution plus 0.25% surfactant 0.25% surfactant

2.2. Thoroughly wet leaves with herbicideThoroughly wet leaves with herbicide3.3. Retreatment will likely be necessary Retreatment will likely be necessary

for complete eradicationfor complete eradication4.4. Limited testing with other herbicidesLimited testing with other herbicides

Useful LinksUseful Links• Floridata Homepage:

http://www.floridata.com/main_fr.cfm?state=Welcome&viewsrc=welcome.htm

• University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/welcome.html

• The Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group. Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas: http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/index.htm

Useful LinksUseful Links• Invasive Plants of the Eastern United

States: http://www.invasive.org

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Plants Database: http://plants.usda.gov

• Global Invasive Species Database: http://www.issg.org

Literature CitedLiterature CitedLangeland, K.A. and K. Craddock Burks. Langeland, K.A. and K. Craddock Burks. 1998. Identification and Biology of Non-1998. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas. Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville. 165 ppFlorida, Gainesville. 165 pp