Tragia jonesii

Subshrubs, 4–5 dm. Stems decumbent, trailing, or erect, green to gray-green, apex flexuous. Leaves: petiole 3–10(–15) mm; blade ovate to triangular-ovate, 0.9–2(–3) × 0.5–1.5(–2) cm, base deeply cordate, margins serrate, apex acute. Inflorescences terminal (often appearing leaf-opposed), glands stipitate, prominent throughout, staminate flowers 10–30 per raceme; staminate bracts 0.8–1 mm. Pedicels: staminate 2.2–2.4 mm, persistent base 1.8–2 mm; pistillate 7–11 mm in fruit. Staminate flowers: sepals 3–4, green, 0.9–1.1 mm; stamens 2–3, filaments 0.2–0.3 mm. Pistillate flowers: sepals ovate, 1.5 mm; styles connate 1/3–1/2 length; stigmas undulate to subpapillate. Capsules 5 mm wide. Seeds mottled brown-purple, 2.5–3 mm.

Phenology: Flowering spring–summer; fruiting summer–fall.
Habitat: Sonoran desert scrub.
Elevation: 10-–900 m.

Ariz., Mexico (Baja California Sur, Sonora).

Discussion

In the flora area, Tragia jonesii is confined to Pima County in southern Arizona. Identified as T. amblyodonta in several floras, it differs from that species by its stipitate glands and twining habit. Tragia jonesii resembles T. glanduligera from southern Texas and eastern Mexico in the presence of stipitate glands, but differs in leaf blade shape and base, the number of teeth on the leaf blade margin (4–9 teeth per side in T. jonesii, 10–15 teeth per side in T. glanduligera), and the longer fruiting pedicel.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa