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Close up of leaves
Pilea pumila
Common Name:
Clearweed
Family: Urticaceae
Leaves: The egg shaped leaves are found opposite each other. They are coarsely toothed, with three main veins and grow up to four inches long. The top is green to dark green, while the underside can be light green or even white.
Flowers: The flowers appear between July and October. They are found in small drooping clusters. They range in color from white to greenish.
Seeds: Flattened, green with purple marks and up to 1/12 inches long.
Stem: The characteristic smooth translucent stem is erect and usually unbranched.
Branching Pattern: Opposite
Height: 4-20 inches
Conditions/Habitat/Kind of Forest: Found in moist shady places in floodplain forest, around ponds and along streams.
Known Wildlife Interactions: None
Range: Found along the east coast from Maine to Florida and west to Texas and North Dakota. It is also found in South Ontario and Quebec
Conservation Status-US/ World Wide: Not threatened in either U.S. or globally.
Uses (Human): None
References:
Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. 1977. pg 438
Redington, Charles B. Plants in Wetlands. Redington Field Guides. 1994. pg 382
Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains. February 23, 2005. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. Accessed: February 28, 2006. <http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/plntguid/species/polysagi.htm>
The Pennsylvania Flora Project. Botany Department, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania. Accessed: February 28, 2006. <http://www.paflora.org/Web3/Searchbyplantname_detail.asp?key=2121&itemNumber=0>
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species <http://www.iucnredlist.org>