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<big>''[[Tragia brevipes]]'' Pax</big>
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Tragia brevipes'' (PROTA)}}
:Protologue: Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 19: 103 (1894).
:Family: Euphorbiaceae
== Vernacular names ==
*Climbing nettle (En). *Chavi, weni (Sw).
== Origin and geographic distribution ==
A methanol extract of the fruits has antibacterial activity against ''Staphylococcus aureus''; extracts of leaves, stems and roots did not show activity against a panel of bacteria and fungi. An ethanolic leaf extract showed significant activity against ''Entamoeba histolytica''.
== Botany Description ==
Monoecious, straggling, twining, scandent or rarely erect shrub up to 1(–4.5) m tall, with stinging hairs. Leaves alternate, simple; stipules linear-lanceolate, up to 7 mm long; petiole 1–6(–10) cm long; blade ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 4–10 cm × 3–7 cm, base cordate, apex acuminate, margins toothed, hairy beneath with stinging hairs along midrib and main veins. Inflorescence a leaf-opposed, rarely axillary or lateral raceme, lax-flowered, usually with (1–)2 (–4) female flowers at base and many male flowers higher up; peduncle up to 4 cm long. Flowers unisexual; petals and disk absent; pedicel 0.5–1.5 mm long, extending to 5 mm in fruit; male flowers with calyx closed in bud, splitting in 3(–5) ovate to round lobes, c. 1.5 mm long, greenish white, stamens (1–)3(–5); female flowers with 6 calyx lobes c. 2.5 mm long, extending up to 1.5 cm in fruit, ovary superior, 3-lobed, 3-celled, styles 3, c. 3.5 mm long, broadened at apex. Fruit a 3-lobed capsule c. 9 mm in diameter, short-hairy, dull pale brown when ripe, 3-seeded. Seeds globose, c. 4 mm in diameter, pale grey, mottled brown.
== Other botanical information ==
''Tragia'' comprises about 170 species and occurs throughout the tropics, with the majority of species in tropical Africa and tropical America. In continental tropical Africa about 55 species occur, and in Madagascar about 10.
=== ''Tragia benthamii'' ===''[[Tragia benthamii]]'' Baker occurs in West, Central and southern Africa and is difficult to distinguish from ''Tragia brevipes''. In West Africa the medicinal uses of ''Tragia benthamii'' are similar to those of ''Tragia brevipes'' in eastern Africa, and root extracts are taken as an abortifacient, to ease child delivery and as a cure for gonorrhoea. ''Tragia preussii'' Pax occurs in Central Africa. In the Central African Republic pulped leaves are rubbed on the body to treat fever and rheumatic pain; abscesses are dressed with boiled leaves. Root sap and root powder of the West African ''Tragia senegalensis'' Müll.Arg. are taken to treat insanity in Togo. Leaf sap of the West African ''Tragia spathulata'' Benth. is applied to cure headache in Ghana. ''Tragia tenuifolia'' Benth. occurs from West Africa east to Sudan and Rwanda and also in Zimbabwe. In Sierra Leone a poultice of the leaves is rubbed on the abdomen of a pregnant woman to induce foetal movement and a leaf infusion is drunk against threatening abortion.
== Description =''Tragia senegalensis'' = ==Root sap and root powder of the West African ''[[Tragia senegalensis]]'' Müll.Arg. are taken to treat insanity in Togo.
=== ''Tragia spathulata'' ===
Leaf sap of the West African ''[[Tragia spathulata]]'' Benth. is applied to cure headache in Ghana.
=== ''Tragia tenuifolia'' ===
''[[Tragia tenuifolia]]'' Benth. occurs from West Africa east to Sudan and Rwanda and also in Zimbabwe. In Sierra Leone a poultice of the leaves is rubbed on the abdomen of a pregnant woman to induce foetal movement and a leaf infusion is drunk against threatening abortion.
=== ''Tragia furialis'' ===
In Tanzania the ash of burnt plants of ''[[Tragia furialis]]'' Bojer (synonym: ''Tragia scheffleri'' Baker) is rubbed into the skin to cure headache. In Kenya a plant decoction is drunk or root powder is applied to snakebites. A leaf infusion is used as a wash to relieve skin irritation caused by stinging hairs of plants.
=== ''Tragia hildebrandtii'' ===
In Ethiopia the leaves of ''[[Tragia hildebrandtii]]'' Müll.Arg. are used to treat uterine complaints. The bark fibre can be made into textile.
=== ''Tragia okanyua'' ===
In Zimbabwe the pulverized roots of ''[[Tragia okanyua]]'' Pax are rubbed into the skin to cure headache.
=== ''Tragia plukenetii'' ===
In Somalia the roots of ''[[Tragia plukenetii]]'' Radcl.-Sm. are used in a cure for male impotence. In Kenya the leaves are eaten as a vegetable and the plants are browsed by goats.
=== ''Tragia pungens'' ===
In Ethiopia a hot water extract of the roots of ''[[Tragia pungens]]'' (Forsk.) Müll.Arg. is drunk to prevent pregnancy.
== Ecology ==
== Author(s) ==
* C.H. Bosch , PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
== Correct citation of this article ==
Bosch, C.H., 2008. '''Tragia brevipes''' Pax. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>. Accessed {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}.
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[[Category:PROTA prov]][[Category:Medicinal plants (PROTA)]]