Tragia urens
Tragia nepetifolia
wavy-leaf noseburn
catnip noseburn
erect, green to purple-green, apex never flexuous.
erect to trailing, green to reddish green, apex never flexuous.
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 3–25(–41) mm;
blade triangular to ovate [linear], proximal broadly ovate to sometimes suborbiculate, 1.8–5 × 0.9–3.6 cm, often red-green, base truncate to cordate, margins coarsely dentate to coarsely serrate, apex acute.
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 sessile or absent, staminate flowers 8–40 per raceme, distally clustered [evenly distributed]; staminate bracts 1.3–1.6 mm.
staminate 1.3–2 mm, persistent base 0.3–0.6 mm; pistillate 3.5–4 mm in fruit.
staminate 1.4–1.7 mm, persistent base 0.5–0.7 mm; pistillate 2.9–3.3 mm in fruit.
sepals 4–5, green, 1–1.5 mm;
stamens 2, filaments 0.2–0.4 mm.
sepals 3–4, reddish green, 1–2 mm;
stamens 3–4, filaments 0.3–0.6 mm.
sepals linear, 1–1.8 mm;
styles connate 1/4–1/3 length;
stigmas undulate.
sepals lanceolate [ovate], 1.4–2.3 mm;
styles connate 1/4–1/3 length;
stigmas papillate.
7–8 mm wide.
6–8 mm wide.
brown with tan streaks, 3–4 mm.
brownish black, 3–4 mm.
= 44.
Tragia urens
Tragia nepetifolia
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.)
Tragia nepetifolia is typically found at high elevations in Mexico and the southwestern United States. Since it was described more than 200 years ago, many collections of Tragia in Mexico and the United States have been identified mistakenly as this species.
Tragia nepetifolia includes four varieties in Mexico, but none match plants occurring in the United States. These most closely resemble var. dissecta Müller Arg. of western Mexico, sharing inflorescences with distally clustered staminate flowers and a tendency toward reddish coloration, but differing in that their leaf blades are not as deeply toothed.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
LA Plants
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
