Definition

Noun: 1. A small, trailing herbaceous plant: A perennial plant (Parietaria judaica) that commonly grows on or at the base of walls, in rocky crevices, and other stony places. It is characterized by its slender, often reddish stems, narrow oval leaves, and clusters of tiny, inconspicuous pinkish or greenish flowers.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The old stone wall was covered in a soft blanket of pellitory-of-the-wall.
  • Botanists study pellitory-of-the-wall for its ability to thrive in urban environments with poor soil.
  • A common sight in Mediterranean ruins, pellitory-of-the-wall sprouts from the mortar between ancient bricks.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Ethnobotanical Context: The plant has been used in traditional folk medicine, often as a diuretic or for treating urinary complaints, which is referenced in some historical texts.
  • In his herbal, the ancient writer described a poultice made from pellitory-of-the-wall.

Variants and Related Words

• Common Names: This plant is also widely known as pellitory of the wall, spreading pellitory, or basil-leaved pellitory.
• Scientific Name: (formerly ).
• Related Plant: Eastern pellitory or Pennsylvania pellitory (), a related species native to North America.

Synonyms

• Wall pellitory
• Lichwort (an archaic common name)

Notes on Meaning

• The name is descriptive, directly indicating the plant's typical habitat ("of-the-wall"). It is not related to the herb , which is sometimes called "pellitory" or "Spanish chamomile."

Noun

1. herb that grows in crevices having long narrow leaves and small pink apetalous flowers