PEST SPECIES

MANAGEMENT

NOXIOUS WEED FACT SHEET

NOXIOUS WEED FACT SHEET

ASTHMA WEED / PELLITORY
Parietaria judaica
Pellitorys common names include Wall Pellitory, Asthma
Weed or Sticky Weed. A noxious weed around Sydney,
Pellitory is declared primarily because of its impact on
human health.

DESCRIPTION
Pellitory is a perennial herb that grows to one metre
high. The leaves are alternate, pointed, olive green and
covered with fine white hairs. The tiny flowers cluster in
the leaf axils. Under ideal conditions the plant flowers
the year round but peak pollen production is in spring
and autumn. The plants underground root system is
extensive and becomes woody with age.
The plant regenerates if the top is damaged or removed.
Every year each mature plant produces thousands of
small black seeds. They are spread by water, wind, in
soil particles adhering to vehicles and by seeds adhering
to animals and equipment.

EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Pellitory can cause skin reactions in susceptible people
when touched. The pollen causes allergic rhinitis,
asthma and conjunctivitis, which are exacerbated by the
long flowering season. People who are sensitive to other
common allergenic substances such as grass pollens
are at high risk of becoming allergic to Pellitory. Pellitory
is a vigorous weed in disturbed coastal areas and will
form dense stands which out-compete native vegetation.

HABITAT
Pellitory will grow almost anywhere, from full sun to
shade. It tends to favour rock walls, cracks in pathways
and damp places and often grows in association with
native species. It is most common in areas where the
ground has been disturbed, and will invade urban
bushland. It thrives on industrial and urban land where it
has become entrenched in the weed flora.

A dense stand of Pellitory.

ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION

Pellitory is native to Central and Western Europe where
it is widespread. The plant was probably introduced into
Australia in about 1900 in ships ballast or cargo. Its first
recorded appearance in Sydney was two specimens
found in 1901 at Woolloomooloo Bay. In Australia,
Pellitory is found in Sydney, Melbourne, Fremantle and
the Adelaide Hills district. Specimens have also been
reported at Tamworth, Armidale and Lismore where it
was being sold as a medicinal herb. Climatic modelling
from overseas shows that the plant could grow over
large areas of south-eastern Australia due to its
preference for a Mediterranean type climate. In
Sutherland Shire it is becoming prevalent in urban and
industrial areas and is spreading into bushland fringes.

DECLARATION
Pellitory has been gazetted as a noxious weed in many
areas of the state. The Noxious Weeds Act 1993 is an
instrument serving the protection of our environment,
general health of the community and agricultural
production.
Under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 all noxious weeds
must be controlled. The act applies to all landowners
and occupiers. This weed has a control category of class
4. For class 4 noxious weeds: The growth of the plant
must be managed in a manner that reduces its numbers
spread and incidence and continuously inhibits its
flowering and reproduction. Failure to comply with the
prescribed categories may result in a fine of 100 penalty
units.

CONTROL
Appropriate safety equipment must be worn
when controlling this plant, especially a
facemask and gloves.
Removal by hand combined with spot
treatments of herbicide has been shown to be
the most effective treatment. All material
collected must be sealed in bags and
disposed of in domestic rubbish. Regrowth
from rootstock and seeds will rapidly occur
and follow up treatments must occur within
three weeks and again six weeks after the
initial treatment. Council staff can supply
information on the most effective herbicide
treatments.

SUTHERLAND SHIRE NOXIOUS WEED

CONTROL PROGRAM
Sutherland
Sutherland
Shire
Shire
Council
Council
is is
part
part
of of
thethe
South
South
West
West
Sydney
Sydney
Weeds
Weeds
Committee
Committee
to ensure
to ensure
anan
integrated
integrated
approach
approach
to noxious
to noxious
weed
weed
management
management
and
and
control.
control.
Surveys
Surveys
to to
establish
establish
thethe
size
size
and
and
distribution
distribution
of of
noxious
noxious
weed
weed
infestations.
infestations.
Production
Production
of of
educational
educational
material,
material,
workshops
workshops
and
and
media
media
briefings
briefings
Assistance
Assistance
to to
residents/occupiers
residents/occupiers
in in
thethe
management
management
of noxious
of noxious
weeds.
weeds.
Implementation
Implementation
of of
control
control
operations
operations
onon
Council
controlled
Council land.
controlled land.
Supports
Supports
research
research
studies
studies
to to
investigate
investigate
possible
future
possible
management
future management
opportunities
opportunities
such as
biological
such asand
biological
chemical
andcontrols.
chemical controls.
Inspections
Inspections
of of
private
private
property
property
and
and
legal
legal
enforcement
enforcement
under
under
thethe
Noxious
Noxious
Weeds
Weeds
ActAct
1993
1993

How can you help?

How can you help?

Visit the Sutherland Shire Council weeds page

(www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/Environment/
Visit the Sutherland Shire Council weeds page
Weeds)
(www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/
for further information, a list of local
noxious
Environment/Weeds)
weeds and the Sutherland
for further information,
Shire Council
a
Noxious
list of local
Weednoxious
Policy. weeds and the Sutherland
Shire
CouncilBushcare
Noxious Weed
Policy.
Join
a Council
group and
gain practical
skills
Join
inaplant
Council
identification,
Bushcare weed
groupcontrol
and gain
and bush
regeneration
practical skills in plant identification, weed
control
and bush
regeneration
When
planting
in your
garden use local native

Pellitory grows well in damp crevasses

Whenor
planting
in yourspecies.
garden use local native
species
non-invasive
species
or
non-invasive
Do not throw garden wastespecies.
into bushland. Use
compost
Do notbins
throw
or garden
Council's
waste
Green
into
Waste
bushland.
Bins or
Use
joincompost
the Council
binsGreenweb
or Council's
program
Green Waste Bins or
join the
Counciland
Greenweb
program
Control
Noxious
environmental
weeds in

accordance
Control Noxious
with required
and environmental
control measures.
weeds in
accordance
with
required
control
measures.
Visit the Sydney Weeds Committee website
(www.sydneyweeds.org.au/)
Visit the Sydney Weeds Committee
for further website
information.
(www.sydneyweeds.org.au/) for further

INFORMATION FROM YOUR COUNCIL

4-20 Eton Street, Sutherland NSW 2232
Locked Bag 17, Sutherland NSW 1499
Tel 02 9710 0333 Fax 02 9710 0265
Email ssc@ssc.nsw.gov.au
www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au