Spreading pellitory

Scientific Name: Parietaria judaica L. 

Family: Urticaceae

MORPHOLOGY

Habit and dimensions: perennial shrub with a short rhizome, reaching heights of 5-40 cm.

Stem: prostrate stem, branching from the base; cylindrical, pubescent, often reddish.

Leaves: alternate, petiolate lanceolate leaves (1-1.5 x 2-3 cm) with smooth margins and acute apex; sparsely hairy.

Flowers: plant with flowers lacking petals, ranging from green to purplish (2-4 mm) with four sepals fused at the base; both hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers. Blooms all year round.

Fruits and seeds: elliptical black achenes.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

Present throughout Italy, on dry stone walls and ruins, between 0 and 1,000 m.

USE

It has diuretic and emollient properties. Before taking any plant-derived product (medicinal or non-medicinal) for therapeutic or similar purposes, it is always advisable to consult a physician.

Photo: licensed freely by Saxifraga and Ed Stikvoort, Rutger Barendse, Willem van Kruijsbergen