Stellaria media (Common Chickweed) - photos and description

 

 

 

 

 
Stems and petioles pubescent

 

General: Low plants with a straggly growth habit, can form mats of many plants. Stems and petioles are pubescent, the hairs growing in long lines. This plant has been spread by humans to every continent including Antarctica. An annoying weed in our garden, difficult to pull out as the stems easily break off.

Flowers: Flowers grow in small groups from leaf axils. The flowers are white, with five petals, the petals cleft. The sepals are longer than the petals, the calyx is pubescent. We measured a flower at 3 mm diameter.

Leaves: Leaves are opposite, petiolate, ovate to obicular, acute. We measured a leaf at 16 mm long by 12 mm wide.

Height: n/a; plants usually with a prostrate growth habit. We measured stems from 5 to 10 cm long.

Habitat: Gardens, lawns, shady waste places.

Abundance: Common.

Origin: Introduced.

When and where photographed: Photos taken July 5th, 6th, and 16th under spruce trees in a city park in our home city Regina, SK.