Pellitory-of-the-wall, confirmation please

[alindsay]

All year, I have found that looking in street gutters and at the joints between walls and pavements has revealed so many interesting plants that the open countryside cannot supply.

One is Pellitory-of-the-wall which I found last weekend in Poole, looking great and have only just identified (hope I am right), but you need to look close - see attached photos to see how lovely it is:





Amazingly when on holiday in Mallorca in September, I had photographed a similar plant without knowing what it was and despite its whiter hue, must be of the same family, see below





Is it the different climatic conditions that cause the difference?

[Hedera]

Your identification is correct for the plant with the pink flowers. I have a large amount of it which appeared some years ago in my front garden; I think I must have brought the seeds in on my car tyres as I had never seen it before! It is very persistent and withstands a couple of treatments of glyphosphate. It grows in all the cracks. The second plant does look very similar.

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by alindsay

All year, I have found that looking in street gutters and at the joints between walls and pavements has revealed so many interesting plants that the open countryside cannot supply.

One is Pellitory-of-the-wall which I found last weekend in Poole, looking great and have only just identified (hope I am right), but you need to look close - see attached photos to see how lovely it is:



Amazingly when on holiday in Mallorca in September, I had photographed a similar plant without knowing what it was and despite its whiter hue, must be of the same family, see below



Is it the different climatic conditions that cause the difference?

Alison, don't ask me why, but Pellitory-of-the-wall - Parietaria judaica, has always been a great favourite of mine. I remember reading about it as a lad, and when I first found it, sure enough, it was growing up a wall!
I,m glad you also find it of interest. It's a member of the Nettle Family and is the only member of the genus Parietaria native to Britain.

The white-flowered plant you found in Mallorca is Eastern Pellitory-of-the-wall - Parietaria officinalis which can have white or red flowers and except for a couple of old records, is not found here.
Dorts.

[alindsay]

Thanks Hedera & Dorts for the confirmation.

Apparently in Spain the oil of the plant was used to cure toothache.