Tragia durbanensis explained

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]

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]

Notes and References

1. Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to Wild Flowers; KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. .
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. Web site: Search results — the Plant List.
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. .