Common Spiderwort
(Tradescantia ohiensis)

The old English word for herb is wort.  The early settlers thought that the filaments on the blossom looked like spider webs.  Another common name is 'cow-slobber' because the stem contains a slimy substance.  The scientific name is in honor of John Tradescant, who was the head gardener for Charles I of England.

Tradescantia's flowers can be dark blue, light blue, pink or white.  In all cases, the blossoms last for a single day.

(Photo credits: Kansas State University Wildflower Archive)