Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm.

 
  • Family : URTICACEAE
    (Nettle Family)
  • Family (Hindi name) : BICHCHHOO FAMILY (बिच्छू फैमिली)
  • Family (as per The APG System III) : Urticaceae
  • Basionym : Parietaria microphylla L.
  • Synonym(s) : Pilea muscosa (L.) Lindl.
  • Species Name (as per The IPNI) : Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm.
  • Common name : Artillery Gun Plant, Gunpowder plant, Rockweed
  • Habit : Herb
  • Habitat : Weed in gardens
  • Comments / notes : Often on hills to about 1000m or more in stone walls, rock crevices, gardens and as a weed in pots.
  • Flower, Fruit : Throughout the year
  • Distribution :
    • Karnataka : Kolar district
    • Kerala : All districts of Kerala
    • Odisha : Throughout Odisha
    • Tamil Nadu : All districts of Tamil Nadu
    • Uttar Pradesh : Uttar Pradesh
  • Native : South America
  • World Distribution : Introduced in most parts of the world.
  • Conservation Status : Not Evaluated (NE)
  • Literature :
    • H.O. Saxena & M. Brahmam, 1995- Flora of Orissa Vol. 3
    • N.P.Singh, 1988. Flora of Eastern Karnataka
    • Matthew, K.M., The Flora of Tamil Nadu Carnatic, Vol.3 (2). Diocesan Press, Madras. 1983
    • Sasidharan, N. 2011. Flowering plants of Kerala. DVD, V 2, KFRI.
    • Henry, Kumari & Chithra (1987). Flora of Tamilnadu, India vol. 2.
  • Read more :
  • Permalink : http://indiaflora-ces.iisc.ac.in/plants.php?name=Pilea microphylla
  • Citation : Sankara Rao, K., Deepak Kumar (2026). India Flora Online. http://indiaflora-ces.iisc.ac.in/plants.php?name=Pilea microphylla. Downloaded on 30 January 2026.

Botanical Description

Herbarium Specimen(s)

Field Image(s)

Distribution District wise

India Distribution

World Distribution

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