Parietaria judaica - Pellitory-of-the-Wall

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Rosales - Family: Urticceae

Sometimes referred to as a weed of habitation, this plant is found most often in towns and cities.

Description

Pellitory-of-the-Wall is a ground-hugging or wall-hugging downy perennial. It has ribbed, oval, alternate green leaves and tiny white flowers that form dense clusters around the pinkish, sticky stems.

Above: the creamy-flowers of Pellitory-of-the-Wall are just 2 or 3mm across.

Distribution

Originating in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, Pellitory-of-the-Wall is naturalised throughout Britain and Ireland, where it is particularly common and widespread in the south. Found throughout most of mainland Europe, its range extends southwards into North Africa and estwards into parts of Asia. This species has also been introduced to many other parts of the world including Australia and North America.

Habitat

Pellitory-of-the-Wall is most commonly seen on the edges of urban pavements, against walls and in crevices in old churches andcastles as well as among the debris of ruined houses..

Plants of Pellitory-of-the-Wall produces flowers from early June until October.

Etymology

The genus name Parietaria comes from the Latin Parietarius, meaning 'of walls', while the specific epithet judaica means Jewish and we assume therefore by implication 'from Palestine'.

Uses

In the past Pellitory-of-the-Wall was considered to be useful in the treatment of kidney stones - perhaps because of its association with stone walls. Some of the butterflies that use stinging nettles as their larval food plants also make use of Pellitory-of-the-Wall - the Red Admiral is one example.

The Pellitory-of-the-Wall plants shown on this page were photographed in North Wales.

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