Pilea

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Urticaceae

• Scientific Name

  Pilea Lindl.

• Description

  Genus Description - Monoecious or dioecious; cal of the male fls deeply 4-parted; stamens 4; cal of the female fls deeply 3-parted, the segments often unequal or gibbous or hooded; staminodes minute, scale-like; stigma sessile; fr a compressed, thin- walled achene, loosely subtended by the persistent cal; herbs with opposite lvs, inconspicuous, connate stipules, and axillary cymes of small, greenish fls, the numerous cystoliths appearing as minute, whitish lines on the surface of the lf in herbarium-specimens blades with scattered, minute stinging hairs. 200, mainly trop.

• Common Names

  clearweed