During intense sunlight, the silky petals
of the flower close. The mucilaginous, stringy substance
enables the plant to hold considerable amounts of water which
may help it survive periods of drought.
Spiderwort is a member of the Commelinaceae or Spiderwort family. It is a perennial plant found May - August in a variety of habitats. The stems arise from numerous fleshy roots. Alternate leaves are long and narrow and are folded lengthwise and curve downward. The stems contain a mucilaginous, stringy substance resembling that excreted by a spider. The flowers contain three round to spade-shaped petals accented by six golden stamens.
Additional information about this plant may be found at the USDA PLANTS Database: