Parietaria judaica L.

Spice Detail Flowers In the field 1 In the field 2

Family: URTICACEAE

Genus: Parietaria

Sinònims: Parietaria officinalis L. subsp. judaica (L.) Bég.

Catalan common name: Blet de paret. Cama roja. Herba caragolera. Herba de la Mare de Déu. Herba de mur. Herba de paret. Herba roquera. Maia. Morella roquera.

Spanish common name: Albahaca de rio. Hierba caracolera. Hierba de las ruinas. Hierba de muro. Ortiguilla muerta. Paletaria. Pelosilla.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Rocky surfaces and dry stone walls. Path and road sides, disturbed zones.

Characteristics: The scientific name, and many popular names, refers to the place where this species lives: walls, cracks in the rocks, etc. It can also live in places where ruins and rubbish have been thrown, or as a weed in gardens and orchards. In any case it always appears close to where humans live. This is a problem because this is one of the most allergenic plants to exist, actually the allergies are caused by its pollen, but it is in flower almost all year long! It is recognised because it has a blurred bushy shape, which is only woody at the base, the leaves have a rhomboidal shape and typically stick to your clothes as if they had velcro. Despite the fact they belong to the nettle family the leaves do not sting.