Here is another species with a prevailing common name that could cause offense, so let’s refer to it by another common name. Common names for Tradescantia zebrina include Wandering Jew and Silver Inchplant, but now some are using a better alternative, The Wandering Dude.
The Wandering Dude has runners that creep along the ground and send down roots. The leaves are beautiful, purple and green in color with silvery stripes. It is easy to see how this plant got its specific name (“zebrina”) when you see the leaves in mass, as they exhibit a zebra-like pattern.
If not maintained, the Wandering Dude can become invasive, but they are easy to remove from the garden, as they only are attached to the ground by runners very lightly. The flowers are also pretty, as they are a purple-pink color, but it is the showy foliage for which this plant is most known.
Originally from the Gulf Coast region of eastern Mexico, it has now become naturalized in many areas of the world. In Mexico, it is made into a traditional tonic beverage called ‘Matali’.
Several other areas of the world have adopted The Wandering Dude into their traditional medicine systems, for example:
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) it is known as ShuiGui Cao (Water Turtle Grass), and used as a kidney tonic.
In Jamaica, it is used for such uses as blood purification, blood pressure, respiratory and kidney health.
In Cuba it is used in Santeria, again for supporting the kidneys, as well as for brining on menstruation.
In Guyana, it is used for blood purification, the flu, and gastrointestinal distress.
In Malaysia, it is also used for supporting the kidneys, as well as other conditions, such as snake bite, leucorrhea, urinary and kidney infections.
In scientific investigations, The Wandering Dude has been found to exhibit antioxidant, antibacterial, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, 15-lipoxygenase, antiarrythmic and insecticidal activities. There is little scientific investigation into its medicinal actions or culinary use, but it does seem to be intriguing that so many medical systems use it for supporting kidney health.
#UsefulPlants #MedicinalPlants #Ethnopharm #TheEthnobotanicalExplorer #Ethnobotany #tradescantia #weed #houseplant #mexico
Photo by régine debatty
*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.