Pilea microphylla
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Pilea microphylla also known as angeloweed,[1] artillery plant, joypowder plant or (in Latin America)[2] brilhantina is an annual plant native to Florida, Mexico, the West Indies, and tropical Central and Southern America.[3][4] In the southern part of México, specifically Campeche and Mérida, the local name is frescura.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The plant belongs to the family Urticaceae.[5] It has light green, almost succulent, stems and tiny leaves. It is grown as a ground cover in many areas.
Descriptiom
Pilea microphylla is an annual or short-lived perennial. It grows low or creeping on the ground. It is monoecious (with both male and female flowers in a single plant) with smooth, translucent light-green, succulent-like and highly-branching stems. The leaves are oval-shaped, narrowing to a point at the tips, with a short petiole. They are tiny, averaging at Script error: No such module "convert". long, and Script error: No such module "convert". wide. The leaves grow in asymmetric pairs, with one leaf smaller than the other. Almost all leaves have three primary veins originating from the base. The whitish to greenish flowers are also tiny, averaging at Script error: No such module "convert"., with male flowers being larger than female flowers. It flowers year-round.[6]
The common names of the plant (like "artillery plant", "joypowder plant", or "gunpowder plant") comes from the fact that the stamens of the male flowers explosively eject pollen grains during anthesis. This is due to the sudden straightening of the stamens.[6][7]
Propagation
Pilea microphylla can be propagated by dividing the root ball, or taking herbaceous cuttings and rooting them with rooting hormone. The plant enjoys a thorough watering after the soil has been allowed to dry, and misting has been shown to be beneficial. Direct sunlight causes the leaves to turn brown and fall off, so it prefers filtered light.
Invasive species
Pilea microphylla has been introduced to various tropical and subtropical regions around the world. It is considered an invasive species in Australia, China, Diego Garcia, the Galapagos Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Wallis and Futuna.[4]
Synonyms
- Pilea microphylla var. trianthemoides is a synonym of Pilea trianthemoides
References
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