Parietaria pensylvanica Muhlenberg ex Willdenow. Common name: Pennsylvania Pellitory, Rock Pellitory. Phenology: Apr-Oct; May-Oct. Habitat: In circumneutral soils, such as in thin soils at the bases of calcareous or subcalcareous cliffs or on calcareous shale barrens, rich floodplain soils. Distribution: ME west to BC, south to e. NC, w. NC, SC (Gaddy 2014), AL, Panhandle FL, TX, NV, and Mexico (many states).
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Two varieties (or species) are sometimes delimited (see synonymy): var. pensylvanica, eastern and northern, and var. obtusa (Rydberg ex Small) Shinners, southwestern. This treatment is quite credible, and needs additional assessment.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, FNA3, G, GrPl, GW2, Il, K4, Mex, Mi, Mo3, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, Tn, Va, W, WH3; = Parietaria pennsylvanica Muhl. ex Willd. — Tat, orthographic variant; > Parietaria obtusa Rydb. — F, S13, Tx; > Parietaria pennsylvanica Muhl. ex Willd. — S13; > Parietaria pensylvanica Muhl. ex Willd. — F, Tx, WV, sensu stricto; > Parietaria pensylvanica Muhl. ex Willd. var. obtusa (Rydb. ex Small) Shinners — NcTx; > Parietaria pensylvanica Muhl. ex Willd. var. pensylvanica — NcTx; Parietaria pensylvanica Muhl. ex Willd. — (basionym)
Links to other floras: = Parietaria pensylvanica - FNA3
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FAC
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect to ascending annual found on circumneutral soils, such as the thin soils at the base of calcareous or subcalcareous cliffs or on calcareous shale barrens; also on rich floodplain soils.
Stems: Stems weak, 4-angled, simple or sparingly branched, covered with minute hairs.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, elliptic to lance-shaped, to 3 1/2 in. long, finely hairy.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in small, sessile clusters in middle and upper leaf axils, each flower surrounded by several hairy, green, linear bracts; flowers either staminate (male), pistillate (female), or perfect (male and female), and all may occur in a single cluster; all with 4 green sepals and no petals; male flowers with 4 stamens and female with an ovary bearing a style.
Fruits: Fruit an oval achene.
Comments:
Height: 4-16 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect to ascending annual found on circumneutral soils, such as the thin soils at the base of calcareous or subcalcareous cliffs or on calcareous shale barrens; also on rich floodplain soils.
stems: Stems weak, 4-angled, simple or sparingly branched, covered with minute hairs.
leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, elliptic to lance-shaped, to 3 1/2 in. long, finely hairy.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in small, sessile clusters in middle and upper leaf axils, each flower surrounded by several hairy, green, linear bracts; flowers either staminate (male), pistillate (female), or perfect (male and female), and all may occur in a single cluster; all with 4 green sepals and no petals; male flowers with 4 stamens and female with an ovary bearing a style.
fruits: Fruit an oval achene.
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