What is this plant?

Does anyone know what these plants are? 2 seedlings were growing in a cordyline tango's pot. At first I thought they were cordyline seedlings, being dark purple and green, but the way they've developed very differently to any cordylines i've seen.

The tops of the leaves are a deep green, the underside is a shimming purple, only visible at certain angles

Thanks

 

Definitely not Cordyline. Any chance of some better pics?:gnthb:

 

Tradescantia????

 

You thinking Wandering Jew, Pete, as opposed to the perennial Tradescantia?

 

Definitely not Cordyline - but does look like Tradescantia - Wandering Jew.
A better pic would help, but that's where I would put my money.

 

I agree 100% with Tradescantia (Wandering Jew) as I have the variegata growing outside here and have done for years.

 

Haven't heard that name in ages - Wandering Jew. Great plant

 

Thanks.

It's definitely a Tradescantia. No idea at all how they got in there. I've had the Cordyline for over a year, and those seedlings only appeared 3 or 4 months ago

 

Dont know much about wandering jews, but I think they normally propagate from cuttings.

I guess seed must be produced but am I right in thinking its not common in the UK?????

 

Tradescantia Pendula like Plectranthus are now used in hanging baskets due to warmer summers whereas previously they were only known as houseplants. I don't know if they set seed in out climate but anything is possible. How it got into your Cordyline may remain a mystery.:cnfs:

 

Tradescantia readily reproduce via aerial stem rooting if conditions are right - i.e. warm and humid - so if your Cordy is a recent acquisition then these little guys might have rooted themselves from a neighbouring pot somewhere along the line...

 

haven't seen one for years. We called them wandering sailors. Certainly looks like that.

 

They were De Rigueur in the 1970's!