Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm.

Rockweed; Artillery Weed

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Artillery Weed is an introduced herbaceous perennial (annual in our area) in the Nettle family (Urticaceae). It is native from Florida south through Central and South America to Brazil. It has naturalized in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. In Alabama in can be found statewide. Artillery Weed is a small plant rarely reaching more than a few inches tall. The stems are succulent, light green in color, glabrous, and many branched. The stems are arching or erect. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, spatulate to obovate in outline, glabrous, with entire margins. Flowers are produced in compact axillary cymes. The unisexual flowers are produced in the same cyme. Staminate flowers have 4 yellowish-green tepals and 4 stamens. Pistillate flowers have 3 yellowish-green tepals. Pollen is explosively discharged into the air, giving this plant the common name of “Artillery Weed”. The fruit is an achene. Artillery Weed is sometimes cultivated as a terrarium plant or as a warm season ground cover. It is readily available from nurseries. Artillery Weed prefers a moist, peaty soil and a semi-shaded location. It is often a greenhouse weed and occurs frequently in pots with other ornamentals.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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