Tragia nigricans
Tragia urticifolia
dark noseburn
nettle-leaf noseburn
erect, purple-green to reddish black, apex never flexuous.
erect, green, apex never flexuous.
petiole 1–5 mm;
blade oblong to oblanceolate, 3–7 × 1–2.8 cm, base acute to obtuse, margins coarsely serrate, teeth apices often somewhat recurved, apex acute.
petiole 3–15 mm;
blade triangular-lanceolate, 2.7–6.7 × 1–3 cm, base truncate to cordate, margins serrate, apex acute.
terminal (appearing leaf opposed), glands absent, staminate flowers 2–5 per raceme;
staminate bracts 1–2 mm.
terminal (appearing leaf opposed), glands absent, staminate flowers 11–40 per raceme, evenly distributed;
staminate bracts 1–1.5 mm.
staminate 1.3–1.6 mm, persistent base 0.2–0.4 mm;
pistillate 2–3 mm in fruit.
staminate 1.5–2 mm, persistent base 1–1.8 mm, longer than subtending bract;
pistillate 3–4 mm in fruit.
sepals 3–4, green, 1.5–2.5 mm;
stamens 4–5, filaments 0.7–1.3 mm, connate 1/2 length.
sepals 3, green, 1.2–2.1 mm;
stamens 3, filaments 0.3–0.8 mm.
sepals rhombic-lanceolate, 1–4 mm;
styles connate 1/4 length;
stigmas undulate.
sepals lanceolate-ovate, 1.3–2.3 mm;
styles connate 1/3 length;
stigmas papillate.
6–7 mm wide.
7–8 mm wide.
dark brown, 2.5–3.2 mm.
dark brown, 3–4 mm.
= 44.
Tragia nigricans
Tragia urticifolia
The combination of relatively large, coarsely serrate leaf blades, dark stems, and filaments connate to 1/2 of length make Tragia nigricans unique within the genus in North America. It appears to be most closely related to T. leptophylla, which also has dark stems and few staminate flowers per inflorescence. Like T. leptophylla, it is found only in the Edwards Plateau, but is restricted to the eastern part; they overlap only in Uvalde County. They also differ in habitat preference.
(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.)
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