Spiderwort Leaf

In addition to their transcendental beauty, these prairie plants are being studied for their environmentally sensitive responses to radiation and other pollutants like pesticides. In the presence of radiation, the stamen of certain species of spiderwort are said to turn pink. Additionally, spiderwort has large chromosomes, making them ideal for specific types of genetic research. The spiderwort's botanical name, Tradescantia, is attributed to John Tradescant, who, upon returning from battling pirates on the high seas, became gardener to King Charles I of England.