Pilea pumila (Clearweed)

Pilea pumila

Pilea pumila (L.) A. Gray

Clearweed

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Urticales	Includes cannabis, nettles, mulberries, elms, others
Family	Urticaceae	Nettle family
Genus	Pilea	Mostly succulent herbs; from Greek pilos, “cap” (from the shape of some flower parts)
Species	pumila	Means “dwarf”

About plant names...

Clearweed is a North American native, a member of the nettle family.

Identification: Clearweed is 6-24" (15-60 cm) high, with smooth, round stems that are somewhat translucent. Leaves occur in opposite pairs, each 1-5" (2.5-12 cm) long by ½-2½" (1.3-6.3 cm) wide. Leaves are oval-shaped and coarse-toothed, with three prominent veins and textured leaves. The leaves are bright green, usually shiny, and become yellow in the fall. Both male and female flowers are found on each plant. Individual flowers are ⅛" (3.2 mm) long, greenish-white or greenish-yellow. They drop in narrow bunches from the axils of the upper leaves. These plants resemble other nettles, including stinging nettle, but they lack the hairs that cause the sting. See this article by Steve Brill on distinguishing among nettles and related plants.

8/22/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, MA
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

8/22/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, MA
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 14 cm) ID is uncertain

8/22/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, MA
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain

Here are some similar species:

	*Laportea canadensis*	*Acalypha rhomboidea*	You are here Pilea pumila
Common Name	Wood Nettle	Three-seeded Mercury	Clearweed
Plant	24-48" (60-121 cm) high. Stems have *stiff white hairs that sting* if you rub against them.	6-24" (15-60 cm) tall, with a stem that is *hairless or covered with fine white hairs. Bracts beneath flowers, stems, and leaf undersides turn copper-colored*.	6-24" (15-60 cm) high, with smooth, round, translucent stems. They *do not have stinging hairs*.
Flowers	Greenish-white, appearing from July to September.	Flowers are greenish-tan, and tiny—less than ⅛" (3.2 mm) across. They flower from July to October.	Both male and female flowers are on each plant. Fowers are ⅛" (3.2 mm) long, greenish-white or greenish-yellow, hanging in narrow bunches from the axils of the upper leaves.
Leaves	Alternating, up to 4" (10 cm) × 6" (15 cm), egg-shaped, with coarse serrations.	Leaves are alternate, lance-like or oval with sharp tips, 3½" (8.9 cm) × 1" (2.5 cm), with blunt serrations.	Leaves occur in opposite pairs, each 1-5" (2.5-12 cm) long by ½-2½" (1.3-6.3 cm) wide. Leaves are oval-shaped and coarse-toothed, with three prominent veins and textured leaves. The leaves are bright green, usually shiny, and become yellow in the fall.
Range/ Zones
Habitats	Moist woods, streambanks.	Open woods, moist soils, gravel bars, waste ground, roadsides, railroads.	Wet upland or floodplain forests, crevices in rocky canyons, and shady wetlands, streambanks.
Type	Wild	Wild	Wild

Online References:

Pilea pumila on Missouriplants.com

Pilea pumila at Illinois Wildflowers

Pilea pumila at the University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium

Pilea pumila on Southeastern Flora, the Southeastern U.S. Plant Identification Resource

Pilea pumila on Ontario Wildflowers

Pilea pumila at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

References:

Newcomb, Lawrence, Morrison, Gordon (Illus.), Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, Little, Brown and Company, 1977, p. 438

8/8/2010 · Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Hollis, NH
≈ 4 × 6" (10 × 16 cm) ID is uncertain

10/17/2016 · Ice Glen, Stockbridge, MA
≈ 6 × 10" (16 × 24 cm)

8/22/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, MA
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 14 cm) ID is uncertain

8/18/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, MA
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm)

9/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, MA
≈ 6 × 9" (15 × 23 cm) ID is uncertain

8/16/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, MA
≈ 7 × 10" (16 × 25 cm)

8/18/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, MA
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm)

Pilea pumila description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 Dec 2018.

9/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, MA
≈ 8 × 12" (20 × 31 cm) ID is uncertain

10/17/2016 · Ice Glen, Stockbridge, MA
≈ 7 × 4½" (18 × 12 cm)

8/8/2010 · Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Hollis, NH
≈ 7 × 11" (18 × 28 cm) ID is uncertain

8/22/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, MA
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

9/29/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, MA
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain

8/8/2010 · Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Hollis, NH
≈ 7 × 10" (16 × 25 cm) ID is uncertain

9/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, MA
≈ 6 × 9" (15 × 23 cm) ID is uncertain

Range:

About this map...