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What plant is a natural Geiger-counter?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

December 19, 2002

Also Sponsored By: Gurney's Seed and 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.

The spiderworts (Tradescantia species) are common roadside and meadow plants in North and South America. Most of the species have blue flowers, although a few have pink or white. The flowers have three petals and six stamens. Among the stamens are fine filaments or stamen hairs. In the blue flowered species, the filaments are usually blue.

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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]

The blue Tradescantia stamen hairs are easily mutated by ionizing radiation. The radiation knocks electrons off of atoms breaking molecular bonds. If ionizing radiation strikes a strand of DNA, 'point' mutations occur. A base (adenine, cytosine, thymine, or guanine) removed or added to the DNA strand changes all enzymes and other proteins produced by that strand of DNA.

'Point' mutations show readily in spiderworts, so much so that the plants can be used as indicators of environmental problems--chronic radioactive contamination, possible leaks from power generating plants, or elevated UV radiation. Specific lines of spiderworts are cloned for this ability to indicate DNA changes. A Tradescantia stamen hair mutation (TrSHM) is very visible; normally blue stamen hairs will be pink.

Albion College has posted a great close-up of Tradescantia ohiensis Rafinesque showing the fine stamen hairs. To view the photograph, click on the link:

http://www.albion.edu/plants/tradohpg.htm

Click on the larger image link to view the fine stamen hairs.

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

Suggested Reading:

Purple Heart (Tradescantia pallida) Plant of the Week - December 16, 2002
What plant is a natural Geiger-counter? Weird Plants - December 19, 2002
Who was John Tradescant? What's in a Name? - December 13, 2002
Why did Linnaeus name the dayflower, Commelina? What's in a Name? - May 17, 2002
What was spiderwort? What's in a Name? - December 6, 2002

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		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]
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