Allergy Information

Because pellitory releases large amounts of allergenic pollen into the wind, it is known to elicit severe pollinosis.

Genus Details

Pellitory is an herbaceous plant that is wind pollinated. It is native to Europe and the Mediterranian, but is found throughout the U.S. as a cultivated ornamental. Each plant bears one yellow and white flower with a purple tinge. The leaves are smooth and alternate. It disperses pollen in puffs. Since the stamens are bent down in the bud, when they mature, they spring upward and release the pollen in “clouds”. Pellitory has been used in the treatment of inflammation of the urinary tract and as a diuretic.

Pollen Description

Grains are oblate-spheroidal to spheroidal; the amb rounded triangular and 2-4 porate. The pores are circular and the sexine is thin.

Grains are usually small: between 12-15 micrometers.

Genus Distribution

The shaded areas on the map indicates where the genus has been observed in the United States.

- Native, observed in a county 

- Introduced, observed in a county 

- Rarely observed