Blue-jacket, Common Spiderwort, Smooth Spiderwort or Spiderwort
Family after John Tradescant (1608-1662), English gardener to
King Charles I Blue-jacket, Common Spiderwort, Smooth
Spiderwort. Also known as snotweed or cow-slobbers. |In early
Spring like a clump of coarse weedy grass with its long pointed
leaves before its beautiful blue to purple-blue flowers emerge
in late May to early June. The 3 petals of the flower are all
the same size unlike its close relative, the Commelina. The
leaves form a sheath which clasps the stem in an alternating
sequence. buds form in a dense cluster (cyme) at the top of the
stem with the flowers opening a few at a time and lasting for
only a day. The ripe seeds are enclosed in drooping capsules
each with 3 chambers. The roots spread forming large patches
that sometimes will cover a large area creating a blue sea of
flowers. Its name "snotgrass" and "cow-slobbers" describe the
viscose sap. The name "Spiderwort" came from the healing
properties (wort) of the sap when used on s