Tragia saxicola

Herbs or subshrubs, 1.2–3.5 dm. Stems erect, green, apex flexuous. Leaves: petiole 5–13 mm; blade suborbiculate to ovate, 1.2–3 × 1–2.3 cm, base subcordate, margins dentate to serrate, apex acute. Inflorescences terminal (often appearing leaf opposed), glands absent, staminate flowers 12–20 per raceme; staminate bracts 0.8–1.2 mm. Pedicels: staminate 1.5–1.9 mm, persistent base 0.5–0.7 mm; pistillate 3.2–3.7 mm in fruit. Staminate flowers: sepals 3–4, green, 1–1.5 mm; stamens 3–4, filaments 0.4–0.6 mm. Pistillate flowers: sepals lanceolate, 1.5–3 mm; styles connate 1/4–1/3 length; stigmas undulate. Capsules 6–7 mm wide. Seeds dark brown with light brown streaks, 2.4–3 mm.

Phenology: Flowering late winter–fall; fruiting spring–early winter.
Habitat: Dry pinelands and hammocks on limestone substrates.
Elevation: 0–10 m.

Fla.

Discussion

Tragia saxicola occurs in south Florida and the Florida Keys. Although similar to T. smallii in its suborbiculate leaf blades, it differs in having longer petioles and smaller seeds.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa