Family: Urticaceae
Author: G.Forst.
Bibliography: Fl. Ins. Austr.: 73 (1786)
Year: 1786
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Parietaria
Vegetable: False
Observations: Old World
Description
Mediterranean pellitory-of-the-wall, scientifically known as Parietaria debilis, is a plant of notable interest originating from the Old World. First documented in “Florae Insularum Australium Prodromus” in 1786 by the botanist G. Forst., this species belongs to the Urticaceae family.
Parietaria debilis is characterized by its ability to thrive in a variety of urban and rural environments, often found growing in the crevices of stone walls, along pathways, and in garden areas. The plant exhibits a delicate, yet resilient structure with small, green leaves that capture the essence of verdant living resilience.
As a member of the Urticaceae family, it shares characteristics with other Urticaceae relatives, yet distinctly stands out due to its adaptability and unique morphology. The leaves are typically arranged in a simple, alternating pattern, providing a lush ground cover that supports the plant’s survival in diverse and challenging habitats.
This species is widely recognized not only for its botanical significance but also for its historical importance across various cultures. It has been referenced in traditional herbal practices for its purported medicinal properties, which were commonly utilized in folk remedies.
Given its ubiquitous presence and historical value, Mediterranean pellitory-of-the-wall serves as a fascinating example of botanical endurance and ecological niche adaptation. For those intrigued by urban flora or the historical uses of plants, Parietaria debilis offers an enriching subject of study.
Common Names
Spa: ratonera ocucha
Deu: schwaches glaskraut
En: Mediterranean Pellitory-of-the-wall
Ca: Morella lusitànica
Fr: Pariétaire du Portugal
De: Schwaches Glaskraut
It: Vetriola lusitanica
Es: Ratonera ocucha
Synonyms
- Parietaria coreana (Nakai)
- Parietaria gracilis (Lowe)
- Freirea steudelii (Blume)
- Parietaria debilis var. ceratosantha ((Wedd.) Wedd.)
- Parietaria squalida (Hook.f.)
- Parietaria debilis var. micrantha ((Ledeb.) Wedd.)
- Parietaria debilis var. umbrosa (Wedd.)
- Parietaria micrantha (Ledeb.)
- Freirea ruwenzoriensis ((Cortesi) Jarm.)
- Urtica fernandeziana (Steud.)
- Parietaria ruwenzoriensis (Cortesi)
- Freirea squalida ((Hook.f.) Jarm.)
- Parietaria debilis var. diffusa (Wedd.)
- Parietaria scandens (Engl.)
- Parietaria ruwenzoriensis subsp. keniensis (Gebauer)
- Parietaria debilis subvar. hyalina (Wedd.)
- Parietaria debilis var. lanuginosa ((Webb & Berthel.) Wedd.)
- Parietaria debilis subvar. ceratosantha (Wedd.)
- Parietaria debilis subvar. lanuginosa ((Webb & Berthel.) Wedd.)
- Parietaria appendiculata var. lanuginosa (Webb & Berthel.)
- Freirea australis (Nees)
- Parietaria humifusa (Blume)
- Parietaria appendiculata var. nympharum (Webb & Berthel.)
- Parietaria appendiculata var. vulcanii (Webb & Berthel.)
- Parietaria carnosula (Blume)
- Parietaria australis var. glandulifera (Blume)
- Parietaria debilis var. australis ((Nees) J.M.Black)
- Freirea debilis ((G.Forst.) Jarm.)
- Parietaria micrantha var. coreana ((Nakai) H.Hara)
- Parietaria laxiflora (Engl.)
- Parietaria debilis var. gracilis ((Lowe) Wedd.)
- Freirea erecta (Phil.)
- Freirea gracilis ((Lowe) Jarm.)
- Urtica debilis ((G.Forst.) Endl.)
- Freirea humifusa (Gay)
- Parietaria australis (Blume)
- Urtica freireiformis (Steud.)
- Parietaria debilis var. squalida ((Hook.f.) Hook.f.)
- Parietaria debilis subvar. macrantha (Wedd.)
- Freirea laxiflora ((Engl.) Jarm.)
- Freirea micrantha ((Ledeb.) Jarm.)
- Parietaria lusitanica var. micrantha ((Ledeb.) Chrtek)
- Parietaria fernandeziana ((Steud.) Náves)
- Parietaria appendiculata (Webb & Berthel.)
- Urtica parietariifolia (Bertero ex Steud.)
Distribution
- Altay (native)
- Amur (native)
- Burundi (native)
- Buryatiya (native)
- Cameroon (native)
- Canary Is. (native)
- Cape Provinces (native)
- Cape Verde (native)
- Chad (native)
- Chatham Is. (native)
- China North-Central (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Chita (native)
- Djibouti (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- East Himalaya (native)
- Eritrea (native)
- Ethiopia (native)
- Free State (native)
- Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
- Inner Mongolia (native)
- Irkutsk (native)
- Japan (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kenya (native)
- Kermadec Is. (native)
- Khabarovsk (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Korea (native)
- Krasnoyarsk (native)
- KwaZulu-Natal (native)
- Lesotho (native)
- Madagascar (native)
- Madeira (native)
- Manchuria (native)
- Namibia (native)
- Nepal (native)
- New Guinea (native)
- New South Wales (native)
- New Zealand North (native)
- New Zealand South (native)
- Norfolk Is. (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- Northern Territory (native)
- Oman (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Primorye (native)
- Qinghai (native)
- Queensland (native)
- Rwanda (native)
- Socotra (native)
- Somalia (native)
- South Australia (native)
- Sudan (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Taiwan (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Tasmania (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Tuva (native)
- Uganda (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- Victoria (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- West Siberia (native)
- Western Australia (native)
- Xinjiang (native)
- Yakutskiya (native)
- Yemen (native)
- Zaïre (native)
- Azores (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Leaf
Taken May 21, 2022 by Gonçalves da Cunha Lucas (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 23, 2022 by Boniati (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 18, 2020 by DE BONA Micael (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 8, 2021 by Rafael Antunes Padilha (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 18, 2020 by DE BONA Micael (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken May 21, 2022 by Gonçalves da Cunha Lucas (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 21, 2022 by Gonçalves da Cunha Lucas (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 18, 2020 by DE BONA Micael (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 18, 2020 by DE BONA Micael (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5361795)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:854908-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Parietaria debilis G.Forst.)