killerplants.com | Herbal Folklore | Herbal Folklore Archives Most Recent | Free Newsletter Signup

How were spiderworts used by the Aztec?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

December 16, 2002

Sponsored By: Springhill Nursery—>Click here.

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~6~~7~~8~~9~~10~~

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Unique Gardens, Tradescantia, & Spiderwort—>Click here.

In the old herbals, plants were classified more by their medicinal uses than actual genetic relationships. Frequently both medicinal use and relationship went hand-in-hand. Plants like the spiderworts were used to treat spider bites and the spiderworts of John Gerard's day (late 1500s) were plants now classified as asphodels. It is odd that John Parkinson, physician to King James I, 'classified' the Virginian spiderwort as a spiderwort since the plant has no apparent affinities with the European plants.

Tradescantia, Mixed Tradescantia virginiana – Lovely three-petaled blooms—a mix of white, blue, purple, pink and violet--appear continuously into fall. Forms dense clumps 18-24" tall, with grassy leaves. Carefree plants thrive in any soil. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!
[More Plants On Sale] [Perennials]

Spiderworts (Tradescantia spp.) appear in Aztec medicine. According to the Classic Codex of 1552, "Into eyes much heated from sickness the ground root of this bush (xal-tomatl or sand tomato) is instilled; let the face be further wiped with the squeezed juice of the bushes oco-xochitl (pine flower, unknown), huacal-xochitl (pannier flower, Xanthosoma roseum), matlal-xochitl (blue flower, a Tradescantia), and tlaco-izqui-xochitl (plant with flower like maize, Brourreria sp.).

"Slightly troubled eyes are helped by the leaves of the mizquitl (mesquite) tree and of the xoxouhqui matlal-xochitl (blue, blue flower), macerated in woman's milk, or dew, or limpid water, and instilled." (Badianus Manuscript, trans. William Gates, 1939, 2000)

Xochitl is generally taken that the flower of the plant was used. Unfortunately, it is unknown what species of Tradescantia the Aztec physicians used. Martín de la Cruz, an Aztec physician, wrote the original Codex of 1552. His advice for slightly troubled eyes emphasized the use of the Tradescantia with the blue, blue flower.

Tim E. Smith with the Missouri Native Plant Society has posted two excellent photographs of Tradescantia, one white and one blue. To view these photographs, click on the link:

Click here to view these photographs

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~6~~7~~8~~9~~10~~

Unique Gardens

Spring Hill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery! [Shop Killer Cool Perennials.]

Tradescantia Blushing Bride

Springhill Nursery®

Tradescantia 'Blushing Bride' – Lovely, varigated leaves and pale pink flowers adorn this 'Blushing Bride' from early summer to fall. Intriguing, straplike foliage is blushed pink, aging to white, at the base. Triangular-shaped blooms attract butterlies! Makes a delightful 12-18" tall ground cover. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!
[More Plants On Sale] [Perennials]

Spiderwort Mix

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Three Seasons of Color

Old-fashioned favorite blooms continuously from late spring to fall. Three-petaled flowers atop 2-ft. plants with sword-shaped foliage. Outstanding mix of white, blue, purple, pink, and violet. Easy to grow.

Zones: 3 - 9 (-30° F.) Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [Perennials & Roses]