Parietaria judaica L.
pellitory-of-the-wall
Procumbent or ascending, densely hairy perennial. Stem red-tinged, usually much-branched, up to 60 cm long. Lvs thick, dark green, dull, ovate to elliptic, acute to acuminate, 1-4-(5) cm long. Petioles much < blade. Cymes congested. Bracteoles < perianth at fruiting, shortly connate at base. Perianth tinged red at flowering. Achenes ovoid, dark glossy green to black, 1-1.5 mm long.
N.: Auckland City, Waikato, Wellington City; S.: Nelson City to vicinity of Takaka, Christchurch, Ashburton.
S. and W. Europe, N. Africa to C. Asia 1946
Locally established in gardens, waste places, at forest margins and on coastal cliffs.
FL Oct-Jun.
Within cities, P. judaica is often established in cracks in foot paths and walls. When fresh it is easily distinguished from the native P. debilis by the much stouter appearance of the plant and the thick dark green lvs. Pellitory-of-the-wall has sometimes been recorded in N.Z. as P. diffusa or P. ramiflora and has also been confused with P. officinalis.
