Parietaria lusitanica L.

Spice In the field

Family: URTICACEAE

Genus: Parietaria

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera. Dragonera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Rock crevices and cliff faces. Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Rocky surfaces and dry stone walls. Walls, rocks..

Characteristics: Parietaria is a genus of the nettle family but it does not have stinging hairs. This is a small, very delicate, annual cycle plant, with more or less rhomboidal leaves. It lives in the cracks in rocks, generally in shady places. But it can appear on the ground sporadically, as happens on some small isles in Cabrera where this plant can manage to form very dense carpets. The flowers are very small and not eye-catching. It is easily distinguished from Parietaria judaica because this one is perennial and much larger and robust, with leaves that exceed two cm.