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Synonyms: Parietaria diffusa Mert. & W.D.J.Koch APNI*

Description: Perennial herb with spreading to erect or procumbent stems to 80 cm long. Stems reddish to green. Single seeded dry fruit (achene) maturing dark brown to black, hard, 1–1.2 mm long and 0.6–0.9 mm wide.

Leaves with lamina rhombic, 1–5 cm long, 5–30 mm wide, lateral veins 2 or 3 pairs with the basal pair more prominent, both surfaces distinctly hairy, especially along veins; petiole mostly 5–20 mm long, generally shorter than the lamina.

Bisexual flowers numerous. Male and female flowers few.

Single seeded dry fruit maturing dark brown to black, hard, 1–1.2 mm long and 0.6–0.9 mm wide.

Fruit Photo J. Plaza

Other photo Photo J. Plaza

Flowering: Flowers for most of the year.

Distribution and occurrence: Native of Europe, western and central Asia and northern Africa, naturalised in the Sydney area and declared noxious.

Thrives in cracks, especially against walls. A common weed on roadsides, gardens and especially where there is seepage.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *CT, *NWS, *CWS, *LHI
Other Australian states: *Vic. *W.A. *S.A.

AVH map***

A declared noxious weed in the Sydney region. Pollen can cause allergic responses in some individuals. Pellitory is also naturalised in North and South America and in New Zealand. In Australia, Pellitory is commonly confused with Parietaria debilis and Parietaria cardiostegia both of which are native annuals having mostly ovate leaves and almost stalkless (sessile) stigmas. The curled hairs on the plant make disperal easy by sticking to animals and people, especially from socks and trousers and machinery. Some local spread via root pieces and transport through water.