Parietaria floridana

Parietaria floridana Nutt.

Common Names: Florida Pellitory, Hierba de los Muros, Caracolera, Pelosilla

Family: Urticaceae

Habit: Parietaria floridana grows as a. semi succulent annual herb to 40 cm. Stems and leaves hirsute. The leaves are arranged alternately, ovate/rhombic, to 3 cm in length, with an entire leaf margin, and obtuse leaf apex.

The incomplete, perfect, actinomorphic, flowers are in in leaf axils. There is no calyx. The corolla has 4 pubescent, green petals.  There are 4 stamens.  The superior ovary has 1 locule and ovule. The fruit is a pubescent achene at maturity.

Habitat: Parietaria floridana grows in wet shady Human Altered environments (yards, gardens, nurseries, waste areas).

Distribution: Parietaria floridana is native to the Lucayan Archipelago also occurring throughout the Caribbean region, the southern United States, Mexico, Central and South America.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Parietaria floridana is not known to be used medicinally in the Bahamas.

Parietaria floridana is edible and has been used in traditional medicine in Latin America.