Tragia durbanensis

Tragia durbanensis, the stinging nettle creeper, is a twining herb in the family Euphorbiaceae,[1] with a restricted distribution in southern Africa.[2] There are some 150 species in the genus Tragia.[3]

Stinging nettle creeper
T. durbanensis from Athlone Park, Amanzimtoti, South Africa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Tragia
Species:
T. durbanensis
Binomial name
Tragia durbanensis
Synonyms

See text

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,[4] 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.[5] 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.[5] The inflorescences are composed mostly of tiny[1] male flowers with 1–2 female flowers below or else all male.[5]

Synonyms
  • Tragia capensis E.Mey. ex Sond. [Illegitimate name]
  • Tragia glabrata (Müll.Arg.) Pax & K.Hoffm. [Illegitimate name]
  • Tragia glabrata var. hispida Radcl.-Sm.
  • Tragia meyeriana var. glabrata Müll.Arg.

Ecological significance

This species is one of the larval foodplants of four species of butterfly; Eurytela hiarbas, Eurytela dryope, Byblia ilithyia and Byblia anvatara.[6]

  • Female flower
  • Fruit viewed from the side
  • Fruit viewed from the front

References
  1. 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. http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Tragia
  4. JSTOR PLANT SCIENCE: Entry for Tragia glabrata var. glabrata [family EUPHORBIACEAE]: http://plants.jstor.org/flora/fz7111, retrieved 1 March 2011.
  5. JSTOR PLANT SCIENCE: Entry for Tragia glabrata Müll. Arg. Pax & K. Hoffm. [family EUPHORBIACEAE]: http://plants.jstor.org/flora/fz7110, retrieved 1 March 2011.
  6. Williams, M. (1994). Butterflies of Southern Africa; A Field Guide. Southern Book Publishers. ISBN 1-86812-516-5.
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