Parietaria judaica
Plants of Parietaria judaica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Urticaceae
Genus: Parietaria
Species:
P. judaica
Binomial name
Parietaria judaica
Synonyms[1]
  • Parietaria diffusa Mert. & W.D.J.Koch

Parietaria judaica, with common names spreading pellitory or pellitory of the wall, is a species of herbaceous perennial plant in the family Urticaceae. The plant's pollen is highly allergenic.[2] In Australia it is also known as asthma weed, due to the high incidence of allergy.[3] It is unrelated to the herb pellitory (Anacyclus pyrethrum). It is easily confused with the very similar species Parietaria officinalis.[4]

Etymology

Parietaria (Latin): Wall-dweller (a name used by the Roman naturalist and philosopher Pliny). Judaica (Latin): Of Judaea, Jewish, from Palestine.[5]

Description

Close-up on flowers of Parietaria judaica

Pellitory-of-the-wall is a perennial herb about 50 cm (up to 110 cm) tall with an upright to sprawling untidy habit. The whole plant is covered with long, wavy hairs that make it slightly sticky. Plants can have many branched stems, which are pink or red and can be woody at the base.[6]

The leaves are alternate, oval lanceolate, typically 3 cm long x 1.5 cm wide (exceptionally up to 6 cm x 3 cm) with a petiole about half as long as the blade. The tiny white or pink flowers are attached to the stems. They are bisexual or unisexual, produced in clusters of three to many together in the leaf axils. The nickname sticky-weed is due to the adherent quality of the flowers and of the hairy stems; unlike some related species of the family Urticaceae, the hairs do not sting. The flowering period extends from spring through autumn, when it produces large amounts of pollen. The fruits are blackish achenes. [7]

Distribution

Parietaria judaica is a native of Europe, central and western Asia and northern Africa.[8]

Allergy

Causes allergic reactions in some people.[8][9]

Habitat

Generally considered a weed, it is often found on roadsides, along dry stone walls and in cracks of buildings and rock faces. Ideal habitats are dry and at an altitude of 0–1,000 metres (0–3,281 ft) above sea level.

Ecology

This species is wind pollinated.[10] Seeds are adhesive and transported by insects as well as other animals, people and machines.[11] Red admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) and Bloxworth snout moth (Hypena obsitalis) larvae are known to feed on this plant.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Parietaria judaica", The Plant List, retrieved 2013-11-02
  2. ↑ Stumvoll S, Westritschnig K, Lidholm J, Spitzauer S, Colombo P, Duro G, Kraft D, Geraci D, Valenta R (May 2003). "Identification of cross-reactive and genuine Parietaria judaica pollen allergens". J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 111 (5): 974–9. doi:10.1067/mai.2003.1376. PMID 12743560.
  3. ↑ Sydney Weeds Archived 2009-11-16 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Townsend, C.C. (1968). "Parietaria officinalis and P. judaica" (PDF). Watsonia. 6: 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-26.
  5. ↑ "Species Description: Parietaria judaica". CretanFlora.
  6. ↑ Stace, C.A. (2019). New Flora of the British Isles. Suffolk. ISBN 978-1-5272-2630-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ↑ Sell, Peter; Murrell, Gina (2018). Flora of Great Britain and Ireland, vol 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  8. 1 2 "Pellitory (Parietaria judaica)". NSW WeedWise. NSW Department of Industry.
  9. ↑ Ferrer, M.; Burches, E.; Peláez, A.; Muñoz, A.; Hernández, D.; Basomba, A.; Enrique, E.; Alonso, R.; Cisteró-Bahima, A.; Martín, S.; Rico, P.; Gandarias, B. (2005). "Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of immunotherapy with Parietaria judaica: Clinical efficacy and tolerance" (PDF). J Invest Allergol Clin Immunol. 15 (4): 283–292. PMID 16433210.
  10. ↑ "Parietaria judaica". Plants for a Future.
  11. ↑ "Parietaria judaica". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network.
  12. ↑ "Parietaria judaica". Database of Insects and their Food Plants. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
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