Gibasis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Commelinaceae (order Commelinales), first described in 1837. The genus comprises roughly 14 species of herbaceous perennials native to the Western Hemisphere, ranging from Texas and the West Indies southward through Central America to Argentina, with the great majority of species endemic to Mexico. Plants in this genus are characterised by the typical commelinaceous habit: succulent, jointed stems, alternate leaves with a sheathing base, and small three-petalled flowers that are often white or pale pink. Gibasis is closely allied to Tradescantia, and several species were historically placed in that genus before being transferred — the widespread Gibasis geniculata, for instance, was long known as Tradescantia geniculata. The genus occupies a range of habitats from dry limestone hillsides (as in the Nuevo León gypsophile G. gypsophila) to moist montane forests in southern Mexico and Central America.
Distribution
Gibasis is native to the Western Hemisphere from southern Texas and the West Indies south to Argentina, with the centre of diversity in Mexico. Individual species range from the arid highlands of Chihuahua and Nuevo León to the humid montane forests of Veracruz and Oaxaca; a few species (e.g., Gibasis pellucida) have become naturalised in Florida and Texas.
Taxonomy Notes
Gibasis was first described in 1837 and belongs to the family Commelinaceae (order Commelinales). It is closely related to Tradescantia, and several species were historically classified within that genus before being transferred to Gibasis; for example, Gibasis geniculata was formerly treated as Tradescantia geniculata.
