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Parietaria judaica L.
Pellitory

Reference
Fl.Palaest. 32 (1756)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Alien to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Perennial, herb. Fl. green. Sand. Limestone cliffs.

Grazyna Paczkowska, Descriptive Catalogue, 13 July 1995

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain.
IBRA Subregions
Perth, Southern Jarrah Forest.
IMCRA Regions
Leeuwin-Naturaliste, WA South Coast.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Albany, Fremantle, Rockingham, Subiaco.

Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)

Alternative Names. Asthma Weed, Sticky Weed, Pellitory-of-the-wall, Kirribilli Curse.

General Biology. Growth form. Herb. Life form. Perennial. Reproduction. Primarily seed, occasionally root fragments. Dispersal. Water, wind, soil, animals (adhesion), ants, tyres. Toxicity. Fine hairs can irritate skin. Pollen causes allergic reactions including asthma.

Notes. Spreads rapidly without control. Sticky hairs make it adhere to skin, clothing and animal fur. Can form seed all year and reproduce within 4 weeks of germinating. Produces large amounts of pollen in spring, summer and autumn. The flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is found on any plant). Seed is produced only when male and female plants are present. Declared plant in the Sydney region. Resistance to glyphosate is reported from the Mediterranean region, however glyphosate is an effective treatment in Australia.

Additional information. Origin. Mediterranean, Europe, western tropical Asia. History of use/introduction. Medicinal, introduced with building material. Similar native species. Parietaria debilis.

Suggested method of management and control. Hand pull isolated plants. Regularly spot spray seedlings with 1% glyphosate + pulse. For resprouting rootstock 20% glyphosate + pulse. Will require several follow-up treatments starting 3 weeks after initial treatment. Protective clothing and mask are required if hand-pulling the plant. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.

Management Calendar

Calendar Type Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Comments
Active Growth       O Y Y Y Y Y O      
Germination         U U U U U        
Flowering Y Y Y Y Y O O O Y Y Y Y  
Fruiting O O O O O O O O O O O O  
Manual Removal Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y  
Herbicide Treatment         Y Y Y Y Y        

Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.

 

References

  • Bass, D.A & Bass, D.J. (1990) Parietaria judaica L. A cause of allergic disease in Sydney. A study of habit and spread of the weed. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 64 (1-4): 97-101.
  • Bass, D.A. & Clements, A. (1990) Biology and control of Parietaria judaica L., an allergenic weed in south-eastern Australia. In Proceedings of the 9th Australian Weeds Conference, Adelaide, South Australia. Ed, J.W. Heap. Crop Science Society of South Australia Inc.
  • Brown, K. & Brooks, K. (2002) Bushland Weeds: A Practical Guide to their Management. Environmental Weeds Action Network, Greenwood.
  • Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G. & Cousens, R.D. (2007) Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. 2nd Edition. The Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Victoria Park.
  • Parsons, W.T. & Cuthbertson, E.G. (2001) Noxious weeds of Australia. 2nd Edition. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.
  • Plants For a Future (Undated) Parietaria judaica - L. Pellitory Of The Wall. URL: http://www.pfaf.org/ - Accessed March 2010.
  • Puricelli, E. & Papa, J.C. (2006) Growth of Parietaria debilis in fallow and in undisturbed areas. Weed Research, 46: 129-137.
  • USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program (2009) Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysimple.aspx - Accessed October 2009.