Classification
Kingdom: Plantae (2715)
Phylum: Tracheophyta (2630)
Class: Liliopsida (397)
Order: Commelinales (22)
Family: Commelinaceae (22)(family description)
Genus: Tradescantia (5)
Epithet: virginiana L. (4)
Synonyms: Ephemerum congestum Moench, Knowlesia spicata (Knowles & Westc.) Hassk., Leiandra divaricata (Raf.) Raf., Tradescantia albida Kunth, Tradescantia axillaris Raf., Tradescantia barbata Raf., Tradescantia brevicaulis Raf., Tradescantia caricifolia Hook., Tradescantia ciliata Kunth, Tradescantia congesta (Moench) D.Don, Tradescantia crinigera Nees, Tradescantia cristata Walter, Tradescantia divaricata Raf., Tradescantia elata G.Lodd., Tradescantia flexuosa Raf., Tradescantia glabra C.B.Clarke, Tradescantia laevigata Raf., Tradescantia levigata Raf., Tradescantia lyonii Steud. ex Schltdl., Tradescantia pilosissima Fraser, Tradescantia pumila Raf., Tradescantia rupestris Raf., Tradescantia speciosa Salisb., Tradescantia spicata Knowles & Westc., Tradescantia splendens K.Koch & C.D.Bouché, Tradescantia trachyloma C.B.Clarke, Tradescantia villosissima Fraser, Tradescantia virginiana Britton, Tradescantia virginica L.
axillaris => armpit, axillary
barbata => bearded, having tufts of long weak hairs
ciliata => fringed, as with eyelashes
congesta => very close together, crowded, pressed
cristata => comb-like, crested
divaricata => straggly, sprawling, or spreading
elata => exalted, tall, lofty, stately
flexuosa => bent alternately to right and left, like the path of a snake
glabra => without hair, smooth, bald, bare
pilosissima => very pilose
pumila => short, very small, low, small, dwarf
rupestris => rock-loving, or growing between rocks (rupes, a rock)
speciosa => beautiful
spicata => spike-like, or disposed on a spike
virginiana => from Virginia, North America