Pellitory-of-the-wall

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Pellitory-Of-The-Wall
• wall pellitory
• Pellitory of the Wall
• spreading pellitory

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Parietaria officinalis var. judaica
• Parietaria officinalis subsp. judaica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Rosales and the family Urticaceae. Its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Parietaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Additionally, its presence is documented within the territories of Finland and Norway. The species is also known to inhabit various landscapes across Great Britain. Finally, its geographical range extends to the island of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Parietaria judaica is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse altitudinal gradients, spanning an elevational range from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 3300 m AMSL. This species is typically found colonizing rugged environments, specifically favoring mountains and stony places where it can establish itself in rocky crevices or disturbed soils. Regarding its symbiotic relationships, the plant does not exhibit mycorrhizal associations, as indicated by the absence of mycorrhiza in its ecological profile.

Elevational range max:

3300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

mountains, stony places

Mycorrhiza :

no

Life history

The life history of Parietaria judaica is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, exhibiting a variable lifecycle that allows it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil, which facilitates its survival and ability to re-emerge. Furthermore, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout much of its life cycle rather than shedding it seasonally like deciduous species.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Parietaria judaica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. Primarily a terrestrial species, the plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit with an ascending shoot orientation. Its physical stature varies significantly depending on environmental conditions, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.9 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.312 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.9 m

Plant height mean:

0.312 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Parietaria judaica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, lacking the ability to fix nitrogen. Its vegetative architecture is defined by an alternate leaf arrangement, featuring elliptic-shaped leaves that vary in dimensions, with a minimum length of 1 cm, a maximum length of 5.5 cm, a minimum width of 0.5 cm, and a maximum width of 3.5 cm. These leaves exhibit a mean size of 8.57 cm², supported by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 331.67 cm²/g, which reflects the plant's efficiency in light interception and biomass allocation relative to its leaf density.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

5.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf size mean:

8.57 cm²

Leaf width max:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

331.67 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Parietarica judaica is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers arranged in a raceme inflorescence. The flowering period typically commences in May and extends through October. The plant relies on abiotic pollination, specifically utilizing wind as its primary pollination syndrome. Sexual reproduction is the sole method of propagation, as asexual reproduction is absent, and self-fertilization is also noted to be absent. Following successful pollination, the plant produces small, black, indehiscent fruits classified as achenes, which measure between 0.1 cm and 0.12 cm in length. These fruits are highly prolific, containing a high seed count ranging from 101 to 1000 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are minute, with a consistent length of 1.25 mm and a mean mass of 0.000226 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00019 g to a maximum of 0.00036 g). Dispersal of the seeds is facilitated through an unspecialized syndrome, though it also exhibits anthropochorous characteristics, indicating human-mediated movement.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit length max:

0.12 cm

Fruit length min:

0.1 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Inflorescence :

raceme

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1.25 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00036 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000226 g

Seed mass min:

0.00019 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Parietaria judaica has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Procyanidin.

Procyanidin

1. BioMed research international

Activities

Parietaria judaica has 5 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antiobesity, Cytotoxic.

Anticancer

1. BioMed research international

Antidiabetic

1. BioMed research international

Antimicrobial

1. BioMed research international

Antiobesity

1. BioMed research international

Cytotoxic

1. BioMed research international

Medicinal Uses

Parietaria judaica has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Candida albicans, blood coagulation, infectious diseases, obesity.

Most Reported Uses