Bot. Also spider-wort.
† 1. One or other plant of the liliaceous genus Anthericum (earlier Phalangium). Obs.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, I. xxxiii. 45. The first [branched spiderwort] is called of the Latines … Phalangium,… in English it is called Spiderwoort…. The leaues … stand vpon the ground with long legs and the knees bowing vp like the spiders legs when he creepeth.
1629. Parkinson, Parad., xv. 152. The vnbranched Spiderwort most commonly flowereth before all the other.
1671. Salmon, Syn. Med., III. xxii. 418. Spiderwort … is Alexipharmick and cures the biting of all venomous beasts.
1705. Mrs. Behn, trans. Cowley’s Plants, C.’s Wks. 1711, III. 379. Thou Spider-Wort dost with the Monster strive And from the conquer’d Foe thy Name derive.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Phalangium, Branched Spider-wort…. Unbranched Spider-wort…. African Spider-wort [etc.].
1751. J. Hill, Nat. Hist., 375. The plane-leaved and simple-stalked Anthericum, single-stalked spiderwort.
1763. Mills, Pract. Husb., III. 312. The spiderwort,… the lesser spearwort, the butterwort, have evidently suspicious marks.
b. Mountain or Saffron spiderwort (see quots.).
1796. Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), II. 339. Anthericum serotinum, Mountain Saffron. Saffron Spiderwort.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1083. Spiderwort,… Mountain, Lloydia serotina.
2. One or other of the plants belonging to the genus Tradescantia; esp. T. virginica, Virginian spiderwort.
Parkinson states that he originated this use.
1629. Parkinson, Parad., xv. 152. Phalangium Ephemerum virginianum Ioannis Tradescant,… Tradescant his Spider-wort.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 109/2. The Virginia Spider-Wort, or Day Flower,… is … on the back of a sullen yellowish hue.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Ephemeron, Virginian Spider-wort, with a small blue Flower, commonly call’d John Tradescant’s Spider-wort.
1741. Compl. Fam.-Piece, II. iii. 385. You have besides the scarlet Lichnis, Virginian Spiderwort.
1829. Loudon, Encycl. Pl. (1836), 260. Tradescantia. Spiderwort … common,… rose-flowered,… thick-leaved [etc.].
1831. Audubon, Ornith., I. 154. The Virginian Spider-wort … is distinguished by its erect, succulent stem.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1159/2. Tradescantia virginica is the Common Spiderwort of gardens.
1882. Garden, 1 April, 212/2. This rare and beautiful Spiderwort is now finely in flower.
3. Savoy spiderwort, the hemerocallis or day-lily; also, † a variety of Tradescantia.
1629. Parkinson, Parad., 150. Phalangium Allobrogicum, the Sauoye Spiderwort.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 99/2. Savoy Spider-wort hath thin small sedgy leaves of a whitish green.
1721. Mortimer, Husb., II. 236. Spider Wort. The Italian and the Savoy are the only ones fit for your choice.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Ephemeron, Virginian Spider-wort, with a large azure Flower, commonly call’d the Savoy Spider-wort.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 317. Spiderwort, Great Savoy, Hemerocallis.
1829. Loudon, Encycl. Pl. (1836), 260. Hemerocallis Liliastrum, Savoy-Spiderwort.
4. Any plant belonging to the order Commelynaceæ, which includes the genus Tradescantia.
1846. Lindley, Veget. Kingd., 188. The Spiderworts are plants which exhibit a transition from the first remove out of the regions of sedge-like plants to the true Lilies.
1866. Treas. Bot., 228/1. Cartonema, the generic name of one of the Spiderworts.
attrib. 1856. A. Gray, Man. Bot., 485. Commelynaceæ (Spiderwort Family).
1867. Bentley, Man. Bot., 680. Commelynaceæ, the Spider-Wort Order.
5. U.S. A plant of the genus Cleome, belonging to the caper family.
1846–50. A. Wood, Class-bk. Bot., 172. Cleome pungens, Spiderwort…. A common garden plant, with curious purple flowers.
