# Tragia durbanensis

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***Tragia durbanensis***, the **stinging nettle creeper**, is a twining herb in the family [Euphorbiaceae](/source/Euphorbiaceae),[1] with a restricted distribution in [southern Africa](/source/Southern_Africa).[2]

## Distribution and habitat

It is native to the coastal areas of [Mozambique](/source/Mozambique) and eastern coastal areas of [South Africa](/source/South_Africa).[1] These plants are found in dune forest,[3] in woodland and on forest margins.[1]

## Description

A much-branched climbing [perennial](/source/Perennial) herb, with twining stems up to 2.5 m originating from a woody rootstock.[4] 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](/source/Peduncle_(botany)) up to 2 cm long.[4] The inflorescences are composed mostly of tiny[1] male flowers with 1–2 female flowers below or else all male.[4]

## 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](/source/Eurytela_hiarbas)*, *[Eurytela dryope](/source/Eurytela_dryope)*, *[Byblia ilithyia](/source/Byblia_ilithyia)* and *[Byblia anvatara](/source/Byblia_anvatara)*.[5]

## References

1. Pooley, E. (1998). *A Field Guide to Wild Flowers; KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region*. ISBN 0-620-21500-3.

1. Swaziland's Flora Database: *Tragia glabrata* (Müll.Arg.) Pax & K.Hoffm. var. *glabrata*: [http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/speciesinfo.asp?spid=1670](http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/speciesinfo.asp?spid=1670), retrieved 1 March 2011.

1. JSTOR PLANT SCIENCE: Entry for *Tragia glabrata* var. *glabrata* [family EUPHORBIACEAE]: [http://plants.jstor.org/flora/fz7111](http://plants.jstor.org/flora/fz7111), retrieved 1 March 2011.

1. JSTOR PLANT SCIENCE: Entry for *Tragia glabrata* Müll. Arg. Pax & K. Hoffm. [family EUPHORBIACEAE]: [http://plants.jstor.org/flora/fz7110](http://plants.jstor.org/flora/fz7110), retrieved 1 March 2011.

1. Williams, M. (1994). *Butterflies of Southern Africa; A Field Guide*. Southern Book Publishers. ISBN 1-86812-516-5.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tragia durbanensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragia_durbanensis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragia_durbanensis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.