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Small's noseburn

Florida keys noseburn

Habit Herbs or subshrubs, 1.2–2.5 dm. Herbs or subshrubs, 1.2–3.5 dm.
Stems

erect, purple-green, apex never flexuous.

erect, green, apex flexuous.

Leaves

petiole 1–4 mm;

blade orbiculate to elliptic, 2–5 × 0.8–3 cm, base acute, margins serrate to crenate, apex acute to blunt.

petiole 5–13 mm;

blade suborbiculate to ovate, 1.2–3 × 1–2.3 cm, base subcordate, margins dentate to serrate, apex acute.

Inflorescences

terminal (often appearing leaf opposed), glands absent, staminate flowers 4–11 per raceme;

staminate bracts 0.8–1.2 mm.

terminal (often appearing leaf opposed), glands absent, staminate flowers 12–20 per raceme;

staminate bracts 0.8–1.2 mm.

Pedicels

staminate 1.5–1.9 mm, persistent base 0.4–0.6 mm;

pistillate 2.8–3.4 mm in fruit.

staminate 1.5–1.9 mm, persistent base 0.5–0.7 mm;

pistillate 3.2–3.7 mm in fruit.

Staminate flowers

sepals 4–5, green, 0.9–1.5 mm;

stamens 2, filaments 0.2–0.5 mm.

sepals 3–4, green, 1–1.5 mm;

stamens 3–4, filaments 0.4–0.6 mm.

Pistillate flowers

sepals lanceolate, 1.3–2.3 mm;

styles connate 1/4 length;

stigmas undulate.

sepals lanceolate, 1.5–3 mm;

styles connate 1/4–1/3 length;

stigmas undulate.

Capsules

9–13 mm wide.

6–7 mm wide.

Seeds

dark brown with light brown streaks, 4–4.5 mm.

dark brown with light brown streaks, 2.4–3 mm.

2n

= 44.

Tragia smallii

Tragia saxicola

Phenology Flowering late spring–summer; fruiting summer–fall. Flowering late winter–fall; fruiting spring–early winter.
Habitat Dry, sandy oak-pine forests, prairies, disturbed grasslands. Dry pinelands and hammocks on limestone substrates.
Elevation 0–100 m. (0–300 ft.) 0–10 m. (0–0 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; FL; GA; LA; MS; TX
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
FL
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Plants of Tragia smallii are easily distinguished from those of most Tragia species by the combination of orbiculate to elliptic leaf blades, two stamens, and relatively large seeds. K. I. Miller and G. L. Webster (1967) placed it and T. urens, which also has two stamens, in sect. Leptobotrys.

Tragia smallii is found on the Gulf Coastal Plain from eastern most Texas to peninsular Florida.

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

Tragia saxicola occurs in south Florida and the Florida Keys. Although similar to T. smallii in its suborbiculate leaf blades, it differs in having longer petioles and smaller seeds.

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

Source FNA vol. 12, p. 190. FNA vol. 12, p. 189.
Parent taxa Euphorbiaceae > Tragia Euphorbiaceae > Tragia
Sibling taxa
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. 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. smallii, T. urens, T. urticifolia
Name authority Shinners: Field & Lab. 24: 37. (1956) Small: Fl. S.E. U.S. 702, 1333. (1903)
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