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wavy-leaf noseburn

short-spike noseburn

Habit Herbs or subshrubs, 2–5 dm. Herbs or vines, 2–12 dm.
Stems

erect, green to purple-green, apex never flexuous.

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

Leaves

petiole 0–2 mm;

blade usually oblanceolate to linear, sometime elliptic, 2–8(–10) × 0.2–1.4 cm, base acute, margins entire or irregularly and shallowly sinuate, apex acute.

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 3–45 per raceme; staminate bracts 1–1.5 mm.

terminal (often appearing leaf-opposed), glands absent, staminate flowers 2–8[–10] per raceme; staminate bracts 1–1.8 mm.

Pedicels

staminate 1.3–2 mm, persistent base 0.3–0.6 mm; pistillate 3.5–4 mm in fruit.

staminate 0.7–2 mm, persistent base 0.4–1.5 mm; pistillate 2–4 mm in fruit.

Staminate flowers

sepals 4–5, green, 1–1.5 mm;

stamens 2, filaments 0.2–0.4 mm.

sepals 3–4[–5], green, 1–1.5 mm;

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

Pistillate flowers

sepals linear, 1–1.8 mm;

styles connate 1/4–1/3 length;

stigmas undulate.

sepals ovate, 1.3–3.5 mm;

styles connate 1/3 length;

stigmas subpapillate to undulate.

Capsules

7–8 mm wide.

6.5–7 mm wide, often 1 carpel maturing.

Seeds

brown with tan streaks, 3–4 mm.

dark brown, 2.5–3.8 mm.

2n

= 44.

= 44.

Tragia urens

Tragia brevispica

Phenology Flowering late spring; fruiting summer–fall. Flowering spring–fall; fruiting late summer–fall.
Habitat Dry, sandy pinelands, oak barrens, disturbed fields. Open forests, scrublands, disturbed roadsides, open fields, often on loam and clay soils.
Elevation 0–300 m. (0–1000 ft.) 10–500 m. (0–1600 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; FL; GA; LA; MS; NC; SC; TX; VA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
LA; OK; TX; Mexico (Nuevo León)
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Tragia urens is widespread from the Gulf Coast to the mid-Atlantic states and displays considerable foliar variation. Leaf blades that usually are oblanceolate to linear with entire to sinuate margins, two stamens, and sparse, stinging hairs are diagnostic traits for this species.

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

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. 190. FNA vol. 12, p. 186.
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. smallii, T. urticifolia
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 Leptobotrys discolor, T. discolor, T. discolor var. linearis, T. discolor var. subovalis, T. linearifolia, T. urens var. innocua, T. urens var. lanceolata, T. urens var. linearis, T. urens var. subovalis T. nepetifolia var. scutellariifolia, T. nepetifolia var. teucriifolia, T. scutellariifolia, T. teucriifolia
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 2: 1391. (1763) Engelmann & A. Gray: Boston J. Nat. Hist. 5: 262. (1845)
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