Survival of Tradescantia fluminensis in sea water

Summary Tradescantia fluminensis stem fragments that had been immersed in sea water for periods of 0, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours and 2, 4 and 7 days were planted into growing media and observed for regrowth for 39 days after immersion. At the end of this time, 93% of untreated fragments had produced new shoots at the nodes but only 43% of fragments produced new shoots after 24 hours immersion, and none survived longer than 2 days of immersion. Because 2 days is sufficient for dispersal to nearby coastlines, there is a real risk of Tradescantia stems being washed by floodwaters into the ocean and being carried by currents and tides into nearby estuaries and onto beaches where they could start new infestations.