Windwolf
Crex Meadows ... Host to a Multitude of Flowers and Plants
Spiderwort
Tradescantia occidentalis - Prairie or Western Spiderwort
Tradescantia ohiensis - Bluejacket or Ohio Spiderwort
The Crex Meadows Plant Guide lists both of the above Spiderworts as existing on Crex Meadows. Other sites indicate the neither of these two are found in Burnett County.
According to the Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point plant website the Prairie Spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis) is found in Burnett County with specimens collected in the 1930s and 1950s.
For the purpose of this page I will refer to these spiderwort as the Prairie variety until I can verify otherwise.
The picture on the left shows the full plant with blooms and leaves. This plant was around 12 inches tall.
Picture on left taken June 20, 2007.
Many of the early butterflies can be found sipping nectar from these flowers including the Monarchs and Skippers.
Bees and beetles were also frequenting these day flowers and many different types can be observed often in the same grouping of flowers.
Wetland Indicator Status
Tradescantia occidentalis - UPL
Tradescantia ohiensis - FACU+
The Ohio Spiderwort is known to hybridize with the Prairie Spiderwort.
The picture on the right has been tentatively ID'd as Tradescantia occidentalis - Prairie or Western Spiderwort.
Picture on right taken June 6, 2007
Prairie Spiderwort flowers last only a day. Morning light is the time to see them at their prime showing.
The flowers decay, turning into a mushy glob rapidly late in the day. A cloudy day may allow the flower to last somewhat longer.
Prolific flowerers, there is no shortage of color once the Spiderworts begin to bloom.
The picture on the left has been tentatively ID'd as Tradescantia occidentalis - Prairie or Western Spiderwort.
Picture on left taken June 6, 2007
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants | |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants | |
| Superdivision | Spermatophyta | Seed plants | |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants | |
| Class | Liliopsida | Monocotyledons | |
| Subclass | Commelinidae | ||
| Order | Commelinales | ||
| Family | Commelinaceae | Spiderwort family | |
| Genus | Tradescantia L. | spiderwort | |
| Species | Tradescantia occidentalis | prairie spiderwort |
Picture below taken June 20, 2007
The picture below has been tenitavely identified via an internet source as Tradescantia ohiensis - Bluejacket or Ohio Spiderwort. The ID is based on the hairy buds and I quote "As for the differences between the two species, it seems that the hairy stamens and pedicles are your best bet (responding to my questioning regarding methods for an amateur to tentativly ID the two species in the field).
