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heart-leaf noseburn

nettle-leaf noseburn

Habit Herbs or subshrubs, 2–7 dm.
Stems

usually decumbent or twining, rarely erect, gray-green to light green, apex flexuous.

erect, green, apex never flexuous.

Leaves

petiole 15–85 mm;

blade ovate to broadly cordate, 4.5–10(–13) × 3.5–10 cm, base cordate, margins serrate, apex acuminate.

petiole 3–15 mm;

blade triangular-lanceolate, 2.7–6.7 × 1–3 cm, base truncate to cordate, margins serrate, apex acute.

Inflorescences

terminal (often appearing leaf-opposed), glands absent, staminate flowers 20–60 per raceme; staminate bracts 1.5–2 mm.

terminal (appearing leaf opposed), glands absent, staminate flowers 11–40 per raceme, evenly distributed; staminate bracts 1–1.5 mm.

Pedicels

staminate 1.5–2.2 mm, persistent base 0.7–1 mm; pistillate 2.5–3 mm in fruit.

staminate 1.5–2 mm, persistent base 1–1.8 mm, longer than subtending bract; pistillate 3–4 mm in fruit.

Staminate flowers

sepals 3, green, 0.7–1 mm;

stamens 3, filaments 0.2–0.5 mm.

sepals 3, green, 1.2–2.1 mm;

stamens 3, filaments 0.3–0.8 mm.

Pistillate flowers

sepals elliptic to ovate, 1.5–2 mm;

styles connate 1/4–1/3 length;

stigmas papillate.

sepals lanceolate-ovate, 1.3–2.3 mm;

styles connate 1/3 length;

stigmas papillate.

Capsules

11–13 mm wide.

7–8 mm wide.

Seeds

dark brown, 4.3–5.3 mm.

dark brown, 3–4 mm.

Vines

, 15–20 dm.

2n

= 44.

Tragia cordata

Tragia urticifolia

Phenology Flowering spring–fall; fruiting summer–late fall. Flowering late spring–summer; fruiting summer–fall.
Habitat Rich deciduous forests, riverbanks, rocky thickets. Dry, sandy soils, open pine-oak woods, hardwoods, rock ledges, fields.
Elevation 50–500 m. (200–1600 ft.) 10–600 m. (0–2000 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; FL; GA; IL; IN; KY; LA; MO; MS; OK; TN; TX
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; AR; FL; GA; LA; MS; NC; SC; TN; TX; VA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Both the morphology and ecology of Tragia cordata make it unique among American members of Tragia. The relatively large, heart-shaped leaves separate it from the other Tragia in the flora area; it is the only twining species of Tragia found in the deciduous forest of the Midwest.

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

Plants of Tragia urticifolia are easily distinguished from those of other non-glandular North American members of Tragia by the persistent bases of its staminate pedicels, which are long-extended beyond their subtending bracts. Although similar to T. betonicifolia, T. urticifolia has fewer stems, shorter pistillate sepals, inflorescences with fewer staminate flowers that are not distally clustered, and leaf blades with very light green abaxial surfaces.

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

Source FNA vol. 12, p. 187. FNA vol. 12, p. 191.
Parent taxa Euphorbiaceae > Tragia Euphorbiaceae > Tragia
Sibling taxa
T. amblyodonta, T. betonicifolia, T. brevispica, T. glanduligera, T. jonesii, T. laciniata, T. leptophylla, T. nepetifolia, T. nigricans, T. ramosa, T. saxicola, T. smallii, T. urens, T. urticifolia
T. amblyodonta, T. betonicifolia, T. brevispica, T. cordata, T. glanduligera, T. jonesii, T. laciniata, T. leptophylla, T. nepetifolia, T. nigricans, T. ramosa, T. saxicola, T. smallii, T. urens
Name authority Michaux: Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 176. (1803) Michaux: Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 176. (1803)
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