COMMON CHICKWEED
Stellaria media
PINK FAMILY (Caryophyllaceae)
Identification
- Flowering spring and fall - March, April, May, June -- September, October, November
- Common in disturbed moist areas (trails, roadsides, woodlands prone to flooding or standing water, lawns, gardens)
- Low growing, creeping
- 5 deeply divided petals that look like 10
- Similar flower and foliage as Giant Chickweed but flowers (1/4 vs 1/2 inch) and leaves are smaller
This creeping annual chickweed was introduced from Europe over 100 years ago. The small white flowers have 5 petals so deeply divided that they are often mistaken for 10 (G). When compared to giant chickweed (Myosoton aquaticum) it has a much smaller flower (A,B) and smaller upper leaves (C,D). Two other distinguishing features are very hard to see without magnification with a hand lens. They include a row of fine, white hairs running up its stems (D) and a flower with only 3 styles (G)(Myosoton has 5). The flowers are not persistent and quickly turn to seed capsules (E, F).
This species had not been found in either of our nature centers before the flooding of our lowlands (2010 and 2011). In those years it was abundant on the floodplains at both Fontenelle Forest (Cottonwood Trail from Handsome Hollow to Mill Hollow), and Neale Woods (Krimlowski Tract). Many will recognize this plant as a common weed of local lawns and gardens.
Flowering occurs in the spring (March to June) with a summer hiatus, resuming in the fall (September-November).
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Roland Barth.