Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm.

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Pilea microphylla

Photo: Bart Wursten
La Rochelle

Pilea microphylla

Photo: Bart Wursten
La Rochelle

Pilea microphylla

Photo: Bart Wursten
La Rochelle

Pilea microphylla

Photo: Bart Wursten
La Rochelle

Pilea microphylla

Photo: Bart Wursten
La Rochelle

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Pilea muscosa Lindl.
Common names: Artillery plant (English) Gunpowder plant (English)
Frequency: Occasional
Status: Introduced
Description:
Erect or procumbent, usually mat-forming, annual or short-lived perennial, herb, up to 30 cm. Stems slightly fleshy. Stipules up to 1 mm. Leaves of a pair very unequal in size: petiole 0.5-6 mm; lamina 1-15 × 0.5-4 mm, usually obovate, smooth and glabrous; apex rounded; margin entire. Inflorescence a small pedunculate to subsessile cymose cluster, 1-2 together in the leaf axils. Achene 0.5-0.8 mm, obovoid, brown, smooth.
Notes: The specimens in the photographs appear to be a first record for the Eastern Division. The common names derive from the male flowers which explosively discharge pollen into the air.
Derivation of specific name: microphylla: small-leaved
Habitat: A weed of well-irrigated gardens.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Probably native in tropical Central America, widely naturalised in subtropical and tropical areas of the world.
Zimbabwe distribution: C,E
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Wednesday 29 February 2012
Literature:

Other sources of information about Pilea microphylla:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Pilea microphylla
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Pilea microphylla

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Pilea microphylla
African Plant Database: Pilea microphylla
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Pilea microphylla
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Pilea microphylla
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Pilea microphylla
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Pilea microphylla
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Pilea microphylla
JSTOR Plant Science: Pilea microphylla
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Pilea microphylla
Plants of the World Online: Pilea microphylla
Tropicos: Pilea microphylla
Wikipedia: Pilea microphylla


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Pilea microphylla.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=120580, retrieved 19 March 2024

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