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
-
-
-
-
-
-
