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short-spike noseburn

Habit Herbs or vines, 2–12 dm.
Stems

decumbent, twining, or erect, light green, apex usually flexuous.

Leaves

petiole 6–38 mm;

blade triangular to cordate, 1.9–6 × 1.5–3.5 cm, base truncate to cordate, margins serrate to crenate, apex acute.

Inflorescences

terminal (often appearing leaf-opposed), glands absent, staminate flowers 2–8[–10] per raceme;

staminate bracts 1–1.8 mm.

Pedicels

staminate 0.7–2 mm, persistent base 0.4–1.5 mm;

pistillate 2–4 mm in fruit.

Staminate flowers

sepals 3–4[–5], green, 1–1.5 mm;

stamens 3–4(–5), filaments 0.3–0.6 mm.

Pistillate flowers

sepals ovate, 1.3–3.5 mm;

styles connate 1/3 length;

stigmas subpapillate to undulate.

Capsules

6.5–7 mm wide, often 1 carpel maturing.

Seeds

dark brown, 2.5–3.8 mm.

2n

= 44.

Tragia brevispica

Phenology Flowering spring–fall; fruiting late summer–fall.
Habitat Open forests, scrublands, disturbed roadsides, open fields, often on loam and clay soils.
Elevation 10–500 m. (0–1600 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
LA; OK; TX; Mexico (Nuevo León)
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

The leaves of Tragia brevispica are highly variable and frequently resemble those of T. ramosa, which differs in having smooth stigmas and leaf blades much longer than wide. The presence of 1-carpellate fruit in T. brevispica is unique in Tragia in the flora area.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 12, p. 186.
Parent taxa Euphorbiaceae > Tragia
Sibling taxa
T. amblyodonta, T. betonicifolia, T. cordata, T. glanduligera, T. jonesii, T. laciniata, T. leptophylla, T. nepetifolia, T. nigricans, T. ramosa, T. saxicola, T. smallii, T. urens, T. urticifolia
Synonyms T. nepetifolia var. scutellariifolia, T. nepetifolia var. teucriifolia, T. scutellariifolia, T. teucriifolia
Name authority Engelmann & A. Gray: Boston J. Nat. Hist. 5: 262. (1845)
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