Mitracarpus hirtus, the tropical girdlepod, is a species of annual herb in the family Rubiaceae. It is native to Mexico and much of tropical America but has been widely introduced to Africa, Asia, and other tropical regions. The species typically grows in seasonally dry tropical biomes and is recognized by its small, white, funnel-shaped flowers arranged in leaf axils.
Ecology
Mitracarpus hirtus is insect pollinated and is recorded to have been visited in northern Florida by Augochloropsis metallica. Ulyshen, M. D., K. Robertson, S. Horn, and C. Dixon. 2024. Characterization of the bee community and pollination network in a southeastern U.S. pine savanna. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 12:1403602.
References