Diagnostic Characteristics
Anderson and Woodson (1935) reported that Tradescantia ozarkana "is obviously most closely related to T. edwardsiana of south-central Texas" and that "the two species evidently differ almost entirely in their foliage." However, since the ranges of these two taxa do not overlap, a problem of identification should not exist.
Steyermark (1963) described a second woodland species of Tradescantia from the Ozark region, T. longipes, whose range overlaps that of T. ozarkana. These two taxa are differentiated by the larger leaf blades (15-50 mm.) in T. ozarkana which are more or less glaucous and hairless except at the margins.
A combination of the following characteristics from Anderson and Woodson (1935) should be diagnostic in distinguishing T. ozarkana from all other species of spiderworts in North America: erect or ascending stems, very conspicuous bracts, at least the upper leaf blades broader than the sheath, sepals 0.4-1.0 cm long, leaf blades directly constricted into the sheath and capsules 0.6-0.8 cm long. Watson (1992) reported pale-green leaves with crinkled edges as a special identifying feature for Tradescantia ozarkana.
Habitat
Tradescantia ozarkana occurs in steep, rocky, wooded slopes and ravines, bases and mesic lower slopes of bluffs as well as dry to moist woodland ledges (Steyermark 1963, AR NHC 1992 and MO NHD 1994). It is most often associated with a limestone/dolomite substrate, T. ozarkana has also been reported from sandstone by Watson (1989). The taxon is recorded between 500 and 2,550+ feet in elevation. Slope aspect does not appear to be a limiting habitat factor.
Tradescantia ozarkana does not appear to be highly habitat specific (Foti 1994). Throughout its range, it has been recorded from rich, diverse, mainly deciduous woodlands. Herbaceous associates are not well-known. At a Newton County, Arkansas site, they include Adiatum pedatum, Arisaema atrorubens, Cystopteris fragilis, Impatiens capensis, Trillium viridescens, and Uvularia grandiflora (AR NHC 1992). Asclepias quadrifolia, Carex latebracteata, Dodecatheon meadia, Hedyotis ouachitana, Silene virginica, and Tradescantia ohiensis are associates at a McCurtain County, Oklahoma site (Watson 1989).
Ecology
Very little ecological information is available for this taxon. Flowering occurs in April and May and populations generally range in size from 10-20 individuals to several thousand (Watson 1989, AR NHC 1992, MO NHD 1994). This suggests that under optimum conditions, the species may be able to build up large population numbers at a given site.
Steyermark (1963) reported that T. ozarkana hybridizes with T. ernestiana in Barry County at Eagle Rock near Roaring River State Park and with T. ohiensis in Ozark and Taney Counties in Missouri. "The latter hybrid is a broad-leaved, glaucous plant with often glabrous or only hairy-tipped sepals."