Scientific Family
Urticaceae
Synonyms
Parietaria obtusa, Parietaria occidentalis, Parietaria pensylvanica var. obtusa
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
4 to 16 inches
Riparian
No
This plant is usually unbranched with small clusters of bracts and flowers at the axils of the middle to upper leaves.
Smooth 3-nerved leaves without stipules; leaves broadest below their middle and tapering at their apex; flowers compactly clustered, some perfect flowers, some unisexual; the bracts subtending the flowers are 2 to 3 times as long as the flowers.
Habitat
Rocky hillsides, west facing slopes and soil pockets on exposed bedrock.
Plant Community
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
1500
High elevation
4000
Flower Characteristics
Each flower has 4 green sepals and no petals and is surrounded by several green linear hairy bracts.
Flower color
Greenish-white
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
June
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are smooth or slightly undulate along the margins. Near the base of the upper surface of each leaf, there is a major vein and 2 side veins that are clearly visible. The central stem is green, 4-angled and hairy.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Brown