What does pellitory mean?
Pellitory is a regional name for plants associated with walls, pungent roots, and traditional herbal use. Its chief British meaning is the common pellitory, or pellitory-of-the-wall, a member of the nettle family that grows around old masonry and sheltered ground. Fine pollen from its flowers can provoke hay-fever symptoms, particularly in people sensitive to nettle-family allergens. In American usage, pellitory more commonly denotes pellitory-root, the Mediterranean plant Anacyclus pyrethrum, whose aromatic root has long been used in folk medicine and as a stimulant or irritant. The two meanings reflect the word's long botanical history rather than a difference in grammatical form. Although the plant can look inconspicuous, it is memorable both for the pollen it releases and for the pungent root traditionally associated with medicinal preparations.
A plant of the nettle family, especially Parietaria judaica, that grows on walls and in sheltered places and can produce allergenic pollen.
"Pellitory and moss covered the damp north-facing wall."
This is the usual British sense; the species is also called pellitory-of-the-wall.
The plant Anacyclus pyrethrum, also called pellitory-root or Spanish pellitory, or the pungent root used in traditional medicine.
"Dried pellitory was used in an old remedy for toothache."
This is the more common North American sense, though the terminology also occurs in older British botanical and medical writing.
The plural is grammatically formed but is uncommon because the word usually names a species or a type of plant rather than individual specimens.
"Several pellitories were growing between the stones of the old wall."
Touching the pollen of this unassuming wall plant can trigger a surprisingly intense outbreak of hay fever.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pellitory come from?
The word entered Middle English through Anglo-French and Medieval Latin forms associated with pellitory. Its ultimate derivation is uncertain, and the name was subsequently applied to different medicinal and wall-growing plants in European botanical traditions.
How pellitory is actually used
Regional usage is important: in Britain, pellitory ordinarily denotes Parietaria judaica, whereas in North America it often denotes Anacyclus pyrethrum or its root. The British plant's pollen is a common aeroallergen, and it has also traditionally been used as a diuretic and soothing herb.