Family: Urticaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Adapted to tropical climates
- Widely naturalized, including main Hawaiian Islands
- Garden and disturbance weed
- Nursery and horticultural weed
- Other Pilea species have become weedy
- Pollen a minor allergen
- Shade-tolerant
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by stem fragments
- Capable of reaching maturity in one growing season
- Seeds dispersed intentionally by people, externally on birds and other animals, as a soil contaminant, and internally by deer (and possibly other animals)
- Able to resprout from roots and stems if not entirely removed
Low Risk Traits:
- Generally reported as a nuisance weed of yards and nurseries. Does not appear to be a problem in natural areas
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Ornamental
- Herbicides provide effective control