Does anyone have photos of noseburn (tragia) they can post?

Howdy All,

Am on a mission this year. I want to raise Common Mestra butterflies. I remember seeing several hundred flying around one weekend in November back at the ranch so I know it has to be growing in abundance out there. I've googled and browsed my native plant books but the photos are either too small or just of a leaf or of the plant at a distance. Would like to view more photos so I can get a good idea of what to be looking for.

I surely don't want to walk around the back fields barefooted or wave my arms through the tall grass to find it the hard way :o)

Does any know of any other plants the Comma Mestra butterfly uses as a larval host?

~ Cat

This is a photo of the Common Mestra

Cat, there should be some kind of native plant person around who knows it. I can take pics of some noseburn when they come up again...they're still dormant here. Otherwise, I read something about the Dalechampia species being a host plant...don't know, just read it. Here's a more hardy kind of Dalechampia:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/55263/

I have no idea if that plant is a host plant, but it sure is unique! I even like the name - "Bow tie". Kind of pretty with the pink! Let us know, Cat, when you find out what plant the Comma Mestra butterflies are using to lay their eggs on. Sure sounds like an interesting quest! :-)

I haven't seen it, that I know of, but it sure looks thorny, like a thistle. What a pretty little buttterfly.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.forestryimages.org/images/768x512/1120269.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm%3Fimgnum%3D1120269&h=768&w=517&sz=60&hl=en&start=20&tbnid=4ybnmSnOP-oRuM:&tbnh=142&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnoseburn%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DG

Tragia is supposed to have stinging hairs and one botanist said the stinging sensation takes a few moments to reach its maximum but is quite painful...and described the stinging as "about as much pain as you can have without actually being hurt."

That does't sound good...but am hoping to find the native plants...maybe with cats already on them...and be able to transplant some into pots.

Really wish I could find dalechampia instead!!! I posted a trade request last month for it but got no takers. If anyone knows of a trader that has some do let me know!!! :o)

~ Cat

Have you checked with those wildflower farms?

Everytime my Bougie sticks me I threaten it that it's going to the compost heap (I don't really have a compost heap...sshhhh), but I just don't like plants that cause me pain. Because I usually forget about the stickers or thorns or whatever until it's too late.

I'll let you know if I find it anywhere.

Actually, I've heard that Bull Nettle has the really painful sting. So far, I've been lucky on my hikes and haven't had to deal with that, although I've been around it from time to time. The Noseburn plants I have around here aren't that bad. It feels kind of bad at first, but after a little while I can't even feel it any more. When I first moved out here to our own place, I didn't know much about plants and it took me a long time to figure out what it was that was doing that to me. I had never liked wearing anything but sandals during the warmer half of the year, so it was hard for me to realize I couldn't always do that here. Eventually, I took a plant course at the university and the prof took us out to show us the Noseburn (as well as other plants) and warned us not to touch it. An aha! moment.

I've seen bullnettle out here. Viscious looking plant. Sounds like my sister in law...she loves to wear sandals and capri pants. Not exactly the right thing to wear out at the ranch when you're walking through the back fields. ....and even our back yard is overrun by stinging nettle....that has a terribly vicious itch too. It's supposed to be the larval host of red admirals but I've never been able to find any caterpillars nor have I seen butterflies laying eggs on them. Just my luck!


Thanks Fly...funny stuff...I often threaten my plants too!!!

~ Cat

Cat~ There are lots of Nettle pics here under "Tragia urticifolia" on this page:
http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/imaxxeup.htm

Maybe your best bet is to try to find it out in the fields there.. I sure will keep my eyes peeled.


Deb

Excellent link Deb...

I've looked over numerous photos and take my plant identication guide books with me when I'm out at the ranch...but I just can't seem to find anything that resembles any of the photos. Then again, there is a couple hundred of acres of native brush, weeds and what not...it's like finding a needle in a haystack!

We do have lots of stuff called hortiguilla - stinging nettle...which is supposed to be used by Red Admirals...but I've yet to see any caterpillars...let alone a butterfly laying eggs. Then again, considering that weed literally covers the backyard I'm not going to get down on my hands and knees to really examine each plant.

~ Cat

You know, Cat, the Noseburn may have gone dormant, even down there in the southern part of the state. I'm not sure I remember exactly when it might come back up here...maybe April.