4. Tradescantia ohiensis Raf. (smooth spiderwort)

Pl. 28 d, e; Map 110

T. canaliculata Raf.

Stems 17B90 cm long, straight or sometimes slightly zigzag, glabrous or rarely sparsely and inconspicuously hairy, glaucous. Blades of the leaves and bracts 4B45 cm long, linear, mostly narrower than the sheaths, pale green to grayish green, glabrous or rarely sparsely and inconspicuously hairy at the base, glaucous. Flower stalks 7B25 mm long, glabrous. Sepals 8B15 mm long, pale green or less commonly tinged with pale reddish pink, herbaceous, glabrous or with sparse, nonglandular hairs at the tips, glaucous. Petals 8B20 mm long, blue to purple or reddish pink, rarely white. 2n=12, 24 (2n=24 in Missouri). MayBJuly.

Common throughout the state (eastern U.S. west to Texas). Glades, upland prairies, and mesic to dry upland forest openings; also along roadsides and railroads, as well as in old fields and pastures.

This species has been documented to hybridize sporadically with every other Missouri Tradescantia species except T. bracteata, and this hybrid will also be found eventually. Tradescantia ohiensis is the commonest and most widely distributed of the spiderworts in the state.