''Pilea fontana'', the lesser clearweed, is an

herbaceous plant Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition o ...

which is very similar to '' Pilea pumila'' (both occupying an almost identical range covering most of North America east of the

Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in great-circle distance, straight-line distance from the northernmost part of Western Can ...

). They can be distinguished by the appearance of the mature

achene An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple fruit, simple dry fruits, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and Dehi ...

s. The bloom season runs from July to September and the plant can be seen throughout the Northeastern US and Canada. The fruit is a flattened, teardrop-shaped up to 1/6 inch long and 75-85% as wide.

References

fontana Flora of Northern America {{urticaceae-stub