Stellaria longipes (Long-Stalked Stitchwort) - photos and description

 

 

 

General: Weak-stemmed perennial, matted, or ascending growth habit. Lower stems pubescent, upper stem glabrous.

Flowers: The inflorescence is a narrow cyme, flowers white, the petals slight longer than the sepals, the 5 petals cleft almost to the base appearing at first glance as 10 petals. Flower measured to 1 cm diameter.

Leaves: Leaves cauline, opposite, broadest at the base and tapering at the tip, linear-lanceolate. Leaves typically 30 mm long by 3 mm wide.

Height: Height is listed in Budd's Flora to 30 cm, we measured plants to 28 cm tall.

Habitat: Moist woodlands, shores.

Abundance: Common.

Origin: Native.

How to identify this species: Leaves broadest at the base and tapering at the tip (Taxonomic Reminder for Recognizing Saskatchewan Plants).

When and where photographed: Took the above photos July 10th edge of hiking trail through forest, Meadow Lake Provincial Park, about 500 km northwest of our home in Regina, SK.