Family name:
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Nettle family |
Scientific name:
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Parietaria officinalis L. |
Family name latin:
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Urticaceae |
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| Description: |
Reaching a height of 20 -100 cm , this sparsely branching perennial plant has alternate, large, longish to egg-shaped leaves with a glass-like shine; flowers in inconspicuous seed balls; anemogamous; flowering season VI - IX; used to be officinal (Herba parietariae) as a divretic agent, wound healing, rheumatism and cough remedy;
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| Occurence: |
Rare, introduced from the Meditarranian area and naturalized in wine-growing regions; by stone walls, fences, on rubble and in riverside brush;
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| Related species: |
Parietaria judaica L.; occasionally in the cracks of walls and by the roadside; introduced from Southern Europe and naturalized in the Rhine valley and its side valleys (V - X);
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| Allergy trigger: |
Pollen, 12 - 17 µm;
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| Invasions path: |
Inhalative (June - September);
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| Synonyms: |
Parietaria erecta Mert. & Koch;
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| Allergology: |
Almost without allergenic relevance in Germany; in Mediterranean countries, however, parietaria pollen are one of the most frequent pollinosis triggers; the fact that the symptoms persist all the way into the winter and a hyper-sensitization only leads to modest success inspite of great diffiuculties speaks for a high sensitizing potency. There is a high homology between the allergens from parietaria officinalis and parietaria judaiapprox. Stinging nettles, mulberry trees and, on account of their genetic relationship, possibly elm trees are considered to be part of the same antigen community. Genetic studies point towards a high affinity of the primary allergen to HLA-DR 5. The leaves and stems have a certain allergenic potency. The parietaria pollinosis is especially important for allergy sufferers staying near the Mediterranean, as they are considerably more exposed to them in that area.
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| Immunology: |
Primary allergen: Par o I, MW 14 000;
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| Clinical relevance: |
light
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| Cross reactivities: |
Occurrence frequently- Pellitory of the wall
Occurrence possible- Peanut
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