Tragia glabrata

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Stinging Nettle Creeper
Tragia glabrata from Athlone Park, Amanzimtoti, South Africa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Tragia
Species: T. glabrata
Binomial name
Tragia glabrata
(Müll. Arg.) Pax & K.Hoffm.
Synonyms
  • Tragia durbanensis

The Stinging Nettle Creeper (Tragia glabrata) is a twining herb in the family Euphorbiaceae,[1] with a restricted distribution in southern Africa.[2]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to the coastal areas of Mozambique and eastern coastal areas of South Africa.[1] These plants are found in dune forest,[3] in woodland and on forest margins.[1]

Description

A much-branched climbing perennial herb, with twining stems up to 2.5 m originating from a woody rootstock.[4] The leaves are hairless or thinly hairy with serrated margins.[1] The hairs sting fiercely.[1] Inflorescences are up to 5.5 cm long with peduncles up to 2 cm long.[4] The inflorescences are composed mostly of tiny[1] male flowers with 1–2 female flowers below or else all male.[4]

Varieties

  • Tragia glabrata var. glabrata
  • Tragia glabrata var. hispida

Ecological significance

This species is one of the larval foodplants of four species of butterfly; Eurytela hiarbas, Eurytela dryope, Byblia ilithyia and Byblia anvatara.[5]

Gallery

  • Female flower

  • Fruit viewed from the side

  • Fruit viewed from the front

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to Wild Flowers; KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. ISBN 0-620-21500-3.
  2. ↑ Swaziland's Flora Database: Tragia glabrata (Müll.Arg.) Pax & K.Hoffm. var. glabrata: http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/speciesinfo.asp?spid=1670, retrieved 1 March 2011.
  3. ↑ JSTOR PLANT SCIENCE: Entry for Tragia glabrata var. glabrata [family EUPHORBIACEAE]: http://plants.jstor.org/flora/fz7111, retrieved 1 March 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 JSTOR PLANT SCIENCE: Entry for Tragia glabrata Müll. Arg. Pax & K. Hoffm. [family EUPHORBIACEAE]: http://plants.jstor.org/flora/fz7110, retrieved 1 March 2011.
  5. ↑ Williams, M. (1994). Butterflies of Southern Africa; A Field Guide. Southern Book Publishers. ISBN 1-86812-516-5.
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