Proudly White. Mexican Flag, Tradescantia zanonia, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Great Carolus Linnaeus in 1753 lists this plant with large leaves and small flowers from the central Americas as Commelina zanonia. Later again it was renamed to its present moniker. Linnaues, though, - careful scientist that he was - pointed out that it had first been described by that fine botanist Charles Plumier (1646-1704) under the name Zanonia graminea. Plumier in 1703 waxes eloquent on the merits of the botanical scholar for whom he had named it: Giacomo Zanoni (1615-1682). Besides, he publishes a fine engraving of the flowers (see inset).
Proudly White. Mexican Flag, Tradescantia zanonia, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Great Carolus Linnaeus in 1753 lists this plant with large leaves and small flowers from the central Americas as Commelina zanonia. Later again it was renamed to its present moniker. Linnaues, though, - careful scientist that he was - pointed out that it had first been described by that fine botanist Charles Plumier (1646-1704) under the name Zanonia graminea. Plumier in 1703 waxes eloquent on the merits of the botanical scholar for whom he had named it: Giacomo Zanoni (1615-1682). Besides, he publishes a fine engraving of the flowers (see inset).