I was lucky to get a photo of these spiderworts, because
research informed me that these blossoms typically only last for one or two days! I also found out that these flowers don’t usually start blooming until May, which makes this observation even more remarkable, as it was made in late March.
Spiderworts, also known as Tradescantia virginiana, tend to grow in clusters, much like the evening primrose. The petals of this flower vary in color, sometimes appearing violet, purple, pink, or (rarely) white.
These plants are
actually pretty incredible. Each part of the plant- leaves, roots, flowers, and seeds- is edible. Leaves are typically used for tea or in salads, roots are harvestable at any time of year, flowers can also be used in salads, and the seeds are edible when roasted and ground into a bitter powder. The plant also has medicinal qualities: spiderwort leaves and roots can be applied externally to help heal wounds and hemorrhoids. Additionally, spiderwort tea can allegedly increase breast milk!
Reference:
http://www.ediblewildfood.com/spiderwort.aspx
iNaturalist Observation: