Sunday, April 24, 2016

Artillery Plant/Gunpowder plant (Pilea microphylla)

An introduced prostrate herb native to tropical America. Naturalized in the low country and common in the crevices of stone walls, moist walls of houses, and gardens. Also cultivated in pots. Flowers very small (0.05 - 0.15 cm) and male flowers explosively discharged their pollen into the air. Hence the above vernacular names.  Flowering and fruiting occurs throughout the year.