Pilea pumila (Linnaeus) A. Gray. Common name: Greenfruit Clearweed, Coolwort, Richweed. Phenology: Aug-Sep (-Nov); Sep-Nov. Habitat: Swamp forests, bottomlands, freshwater marshes, tidal marshes, disturbed wet ground. Distribution: QC west to MN, south to FL, LA, and OK. Sometimes considered to also occur in e. Asia, or these populations separated as P. mongolica Weddell, the course followed here. Additional study is needed.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, FNA3, G, GrPl, GW2, Il, K4, Mi, Mo3, Pa, POWO, RAB, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV; = Pilea pumila (L.) A.Gray var. pumila — NE, NY; < Adicea pumila (L.) Raf. — S, S13; > Pilea pumila (L.) A.Gray var. deamii (Lunell) Fernald — F, NcTx, NS, Tx; > Pilea pumila (L.) A.Gray var. pumila — F, NS, Tx; Urtica pumila Linnaeus. Basionym: Urtica pumila L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Pilea pumila - FNA3
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
- Great Plains: FAC
- Midwest: FACW
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect annual found in swamp forests, bottomlands, freshwater marshes, tidal marshes and disturbed wet ground.
Stems: Stems succulent, sometimes slightly ribbed, pale green to reddish-green and nearly translucent, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, long-petiolate, oval, 3/4-4 in. long, with 3 prominent veins, coarsely toothed, smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in narrow, somewhat horizontal, 1-in.-long racemes from upper leaf axils; greenish-white to greenish-yellow; less than 1/4 in. wide; male and female flowers separate, female flowers with 3 sepals and 1 pistil, male with 4 sepals and 4 stamens.
Fruits: Fruit a straw-colored to green achene.
Comments: There are no stinging hairs.
Height: 4 - 24 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect annual found in swamp forests, bottomlands, freshwater marshes, tidal marshes and disturbed wet ground.
stems: Stems succulent, sometimes slightly ribbed, pale green to reddish-green and nearly translucent, smooth.
leaves: Leaves opposite, long-petiolate, oval, 3/4-4 in. long, with 3 prominent veins, coarsely toothed, smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in narrow, somewhat horizontal, 1-in.-long racemes from upper leaf axils; greenish-white to greenish-yellow; less than 1/4 in. wide; male and female flowers separate, female flowers with 3 sepals and 1 pistil, male with 4 sepals and 4 stamens.
fruits: Fruit a straw-colored to green achene.
comments: There are no stinging hairs.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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