Tragia smallii

Herbs or subshrubs, 1.2–2.5 dm. Stems erect, purple-green, apex never flexuous. Leaves: petiole 1–4 mm; blade orbiculate to elliptic, 2–5 × 0.8–3 cm, base acute, margins serrate to crenate, apex acute to blunt. Inflorescences terminal (often appearing leaf opposed), glands absent, staminate flowers 4–11 per raceme; staminate bracts 0.8–1.2 mm. Pedicels: staminate 1.5–1.9 mm, persistent base 0.4–0.6 mm; pistillate 2.8–3.4 mm in fruit. Staminate flowers: sepals 4–5, green, 0.9–1.5 mm; stamens 2, filaments 0.2–0.5 mm. Pistillate flowers: sepals lanceolate, 1.3–2.3 mm; styles connate 1/4 length; stigmas undulate. Capsules 9–13 mm wide. Seeds dark brown with light brown streaks, 4–4.5 mm. 2n = 44.

Phenology: Flowering late spring–summer; fruiting summer–fall.
Habitat: Dry, sandy oak-pine forests, prairies, disturbed grasslands.
Elevation: 0–100 m.

Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., Tex.

Discussion

Plants of Tragia smallii are easily distinguished from those of most Tragia species by the combination of orbiculate to elliptic leaf blades, two stamens, and relatively large seeds. K. I. Miller and G. L. Webster (1967) placed it and T. urens, which also has two stamens, in sect. Leptobotrys.

Tragia smallii is found on the Gulf Coastal Plain from eastern most Texas to peninsular Florida.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa