Inchplant (Tradescantia zebrina)

Rumput belang or inchplant or zebrina pendula (Tradescantia zebrina) is a spiderwort species in Commelinaceae, growing vines and climbing, in colonies forming dense mats, having striking zebra-patterned leaves and widely used as ornamental plants.

T. zebrina has green stems with magenta spots, divided into growth segments with roots growing at each junction and the tip is magenta leaf buds. The roots develop in permanent contact with moisture, soil, water or substrate.

Ovoid-shaped leaves, 4-10 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide and rounded to the base, shiny, growing in a row in each segment, alternating and hairy or hairless. The upper surface is dark green with two wide silver lines parallel to the middle axis, while the bottom surface is magenta.

The flowers in clusters are supported by two large and narrow bracts, hermaphrodite, radial-symmetrical triples. Three sepals are 2-3 mm long, the other three grow on the base petals, ovoid, pink to purple and 5-9 mm long.

Six stamens have purple hair. Three carpels that have become permanent ovaries will form fruit capsules containing gray-brown seeds. Inchplant grows in clumps in wetlands and rain forests, often on rocks in shaded and open areas or on river banks in the lowlands up to 2000 meters.

Inchplant is usually used as an ornamental plant and ground cover. At least three varieties are Tradescantia zebrina var. flocculosa, Tradescantia zebrina var. mollipila and Tradescantia zebrina var. zebrina.

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Commelinales
Family: Commelinaceae
Subfamily: Commelinoideae
Tribe: Tradescantieae
Subtribe: Tradescantiinae
Genus: Tradescantia
Species: T. zebrina

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