Parietaria officinalis
Inflorescence
The Upright glass herb ( Parietaria officinalis, Syn. Parietaria erecta Mert & WDJKoch ) is a flowering plant in the family of the Nettle family ( Urticaceae ). The botanical genus name Parietaria is derived from the Latin paries, parietis for wall, since this type often grows in walls. The German name Pellitory received the species of the genus, because you previously used the herb for cleaning blind glasses.
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The Upright glass herb is a perennial herbaceous plant, the plant height of 30 to 80, rarely up to 150 centimeters reached. Stinging hairs are not present. The stem is erect, simple or sparsely branched. The change-constant leaves are large and grassy shining, oblong- ovate lamina their is usually 10 to 15, rarely 5 to 20 inches long.
Parietaria officinalis is predominantly dioecious separated geschlechtig ( dioecious ). There are male, female and hermaphrodite flowers. In the leaf axils are dense, spherical inflorescences, which have free bracts at the base. The inconspicuous flowers are cruciform. The stamens are initially as watch springs stretched and stretch during flowering. The fruits are black when they are ripe.
The flowering period extends from June to September.
The chromosome number is n = 7
Inflorescence close-up
Existence of the upright glass herb
Ecology
The Upright glass herb is a archaeophyte and a ruderal plant that grows on nutrient-rich soils, but also to rubble. In addition, it is also an overgrown cultures from former culture relic. It is from the Mediterranean region, where the plant is common, introduced. In South Tyrol, for example, The plant spread out further, and it is there as anemophilous species now a dreaded allergy plant.
The fruits are up to 2 mm long, black, shiny nuts, which are subject to the ants spread. With its pericarp they can also spread by the wind as a balloon pilot.
Fruit ripening extends from August to September.
Occurrence
The Upright glass herb is widespread in central and southern Europe; it is missing in the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula. North of this type has been naturalized to Denmark by man; in Germany it is considered archaeophyte. Be colonized hardwood floodplain forests and semi-shaded Knoblauchsrauken, chervil and chervil Velcro Staudensäume.
Use
The green parts of young plants can be eaten raw or cooked.
Use as a medicinal plant
As a medicinal drug is the dried whole plant
As less investigated substances are: flavonoids, caffeic acid derivatives, bitter substances, much potassium nitrate.
Applications: The drug is said to have a certain amount of diuretic effect. It is still present in a few tea blends and finished products, but has also today as a medicinal plant no more importance.