Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm.
All images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View selected images
Photo: Bart Wursten
La Rochelle
Photo: Bart Wursten
La Rochelle
Photo: Bart Wursten
La Rochelle
Photo: Bart Wursten
La Rochelle
Photo: Bart Wursten
La Rochelle
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 Zimbabwe:
cultivated Pilea microphyllaExternal websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg):
Pilea microphyllaAfrican Plant Database:
Pilea microphyllaBHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library):
Pilea microphyllaEOL (Encyclopedia of Life):
Pilea microphyllaePIC (electronic Plant Information Center):
Pilea microphyllaFlora Zambesiaca web site:
Pilea microphyllaGBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility):
Pilea microphyllaGoogle:
Web -
Images -
ScholarGRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network):
Pilea microphyllaiNaturalist:
Pilea microphyllaIPNI (International Plant Names Index):
Pilea microphyllaJSTOR Plant Science:
Pilea microphyllaKew Herbarium catalogue:
Pilea microphyllaMansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops:
Pilea microphyllaPlants of the World Online:
Pilea microphyllaTropicos:
Pilea microphyllaWikipedia:
Pilea microphylla
Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-22
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M.
(2022).
Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Pilea microphylla. https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=120580, retrieved 5 July 2022
Site software last modified: 26 March 2018 2:01pm (GMT +2)
Terms of use