Pilea pumila Pilea pumila (L.) A. Gray
Clearweed
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 8/22/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, MA 8/22/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, MA |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Here are some similar species:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Laportea canadensis |
Acalypha rhomboidea |
You are here Pilea pumila |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Common Name | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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:
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.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
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: