Tragia mazoensis Radcl.-Sm.

mazoensis: of the Mazoe area in northern Zimbabwe.

Erect perennial herb, up to 40 cm high, with several stems growing from a woody rootstock. Nettle-like, irritating and painful to the skin when touched. Leaves linear-lanceiolate, 1-4 cm long, 3-5-veined from the base, sparsely velvety on both surfaces and with irritant bristles on the midrib and main veins beneath; margin entire or with a few apical teeth; petiole 1-2 mm long or leaves subsessile. Flowers unisexual on different plants. Male inflorescences terminal, up to 9 cm long; female inflorescences leaf-opposed, up to 4 cm long. Fruit 6 × 8 mm, 3-lobed, smooth, densely covered in stinging bristles.

Local

Northern Zimbabwe only