Tragia betonicifolia

Tragia betonicifolia An odd Tragia was found in Albemarle County by Tom Dierauff and sent to VPI for identification. The specimen turned out to be Tragia betonicifolia, a species of the c. and sc. US that extends eastward in Tennessee. Close scrutiny of specimens of Tragia urticifolia revealed that the species had previously been found in Henry County and sent in by the County Extension agent. Considering that Tragia urticifolia is a rare, native species of dry, often base-rich soils in the Piedmont, any weedy Tragia should be viewed as possibly being T. betonicifolia.