Tragia praetervisa – Bypassed Stinging Nettle

Larval Host Plant

Ariadne ariadne – Angled Castor
Ariadne merione – Common Castor

BOI-pnb981 BOI-pnb992 BOI-pnb993 BOI-pmw972

Other notes

Natural History: A neglected species previously reported in error as T. hispida and T. involucrata. It differs in having cordate leaf base and elliptic leaves. It is a small climber that occurs commonly along the roads and other large, sunny forest openings in the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. It flowers and fruits from January to June. It is called Churki (चुरकी) in Maharashtra.

 

Notes: This plant has been recorded as a new larval host for Ariadne merione – Common Castor and Ariadne ariadne – Angled Castor by Nitin Kawthankar from Sindhudurg, Maharashtra in 2022.

 

References:

WFO (2023): World Flora Online. Accessed on 05 Jan 2023. URL: http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000810473.

Chakrabarty, T. & N.P. Balakrishnan (2006). The genera Megistostigma Hook. f. and Tragia L. (Euphorbiaceae) in India. Rheedea, 16(1):15-28.

Page citation

Kawthankar, N. 2024. Tragia praetervisa Chakrab. & N.P.Balakr. – Bypassed Stinging Nettle. In Kunte, K., S. Sondhi, and P. Roy (Chief Editors). Butterflies of India, v. 4.12. Published by the Indian Foundation for Butterflies. URL: https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/tragia-praetervisa, accessed 2024/04/25.