SPREADING PELLITORY

Pellitory (Parietaria judaica), also known as: asthma weed, pellitory of the wall, is a an upright or spreading plant with hairy stems and leaves that feel sticky. Pellitory is a much-branched perennial herb, that grows up to 1.0 m. It may be upright or spreading. The stems have four-angles and are greenish-brown or reddish-brown. The leaves and stems are covered in curled hairs that feel sticky. Leaves are green, soft, oval shape with pointed ends, and are 2cm to 8cm long. They are arranged alternately along the stems. Flowers are very small, light green in colour, and clustered long the stems. Flowers may turn red or reddish-brown when they mature. Pellitory is mildly toxic to humans, causing skin irritation when plant hairs cling to clothing, and allergic reactions through the pollen which is produced throughout the year but copiously in spring. Reactions include asthma, conjunctivitis, hay fever and severe skin irritation.
Pellitory common weed on roadsides and in gardens and thrives in cracks especially against walls.
Native of Europe, central and western Asia and northern Africa.

The main impact of Pellitory is on human health. Contact with the plant can induce severe skin reactions. Its pollen causes asthma, conjunctivitis, rhinitis and hay fever (Sydney Weeds Committees undated A). It also competes strongly with other species.

Pellitory is present in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia, mainly in and around the major urban areas. In Sydney, New South Wales, the weed is widespread over the Inner Sydney region, continuing to spread through the North Shore, the Western Suburbs to Mount Druitt and to Sutherland in the south. In Sydney, P. judaica is commonly known as Asthma Weed (Sydney Central Regional Weeds Committee 2003). In Western Australia it is naturalised at Fremantle on wasteland and old walls, and also on cliffs, such as along the Swan River (Hussey et al. 1997). It is also found in south-east South Australia and south-east Queensland 

Spray FireHawk Bioherbicide Concentrate: 50 mL/L of water. Respray when regrowth occurs from roots and/or runners. May require repeated application to obtain long-term weed control.