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Spurgecreeper (Dalechampia ficifolia)

Description

Slender perennial climber, growing from a woody rootstock. Stems up to 3 m long, pubescent and often with nettle-like hairs. Leaves 3-fid to 3-lobed, rarely 5-lobed, up to 13 - 14 cm in outline, more or less deeply cordate at the base; margin serrate in this subspecies. Inflorescences axillary on peduncles 1-10 cm long. Bract leaf-like up to 4 cm long, more or less shallowly 3-lobed, cordate at the base; margin serrate. Male bracts ovate in outline; female bracts elliptic-ovate narrower and shorter than male bracts. Flowers unisexual enveloped in the bracts in different inflorescences on the same plant. Fruit up to 5 - 10 mm, more or less smooth, pubescent, brownish.

Taxonomic tree

  • Domain: Eukarya

    • Kingdom: Plantae

      • Phylum: Magnoliophyta

        • Class: Magnoliopsida

          • Order: Malpighiales

            • Family: Euphorbiaceae

              • Genus: Dalechampia