WATER CHICKWEED

Stellaria aquatica

(Formerly: Myosoton aquaticum)
Carnation & Campion (Pink) Family [Caryophyllaceae]

month8jun month8june month8jul month8july month8aug month8sep month8sept month8oct

status
statusZnative		 flower
flower8white		 inner
inner8azure		 morph
morph8actino		 petals
petalsZ5		 petals
petalsZcleft petalsZcut		 stem
stem8square		 stem
stem8round		 sex
sexZbisexual

1st June 2009, unknown place. Photo: © Bastiaan Brak
The leaves usually have a wavy edge and are un-stalked near the top, but lower down the stem are stalked.


1st June 2009, unknown place. Photo: © Bastiaan Brak
The leaves are in opposite pairs with small auricles clasping the stem each side and without stalks. The leaves usually have a wavy edge.


1st June 2009, unknown place. Photo: © Bastiaan Brak
Distinctively red veined on the underside of the leaves. The stems can be square but the flower stalks are round.


1st June 2009, unknown place. Photo: © Bastiaan Brak
Your Author thinks that this is the only Stellaria with pale azure coloured anthers (when closed).


1st June 2009, unknown place. Photo: © Bastiaan Brak
Like many Chickweeds and Stitchworts, the 5 petals are deeply cleft, in this case all the way to their to their green 'stalks' in the centre, but unlike some, the pairs of petals are not parted very widely apart.


1st June 2009, unknown place. Photo: © Bastiaan Brak
Un-opened anthers a pale azure colour. There are five styles [Stellaria species have but 3 styles]. Water Chickweed was formerly put in a differing Genus (Myosoton) because of this and other features which differed from Chickweeds and Stitchworts - but has recently been transferred into the Stellaria genus.


1st June 2009, unknown place. Photo: © Bastiaan Brak
The hairs on the upper part of the plant are fairly dense, but short and tipped by glands; it is hairless lower down.


21st July 2014, unknown place. Photo: © Ann Collier
The sepals are shorter than the petals.


21st July 2014, unknown place. Photo: © Ann Collier
When open, the pollen is very pale fawn.

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature : Like a Chickweed or Stitchwort but with five styles (not 3).

Water Chickweed is native and grows in marshes, ditches and on the banks of freshwater streams and rivers and is fairly common in England and Wales (although your Author has never knowingly seen it), and is to be found as far north as County Durham. It is naturalised in Central Scotland, IOM and the Chanel Islands.

  Stellaria aquatica  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Caryophyllaceae  

Distribution
family8Carnation & Campion (Pink) family8Caryophyllaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Stellaria
Stellaria
(Stitchworts)

WATER CHICKWEED

Stellaria aquatica

(Formerly: Myosoton aquaticum)
Carnation & Campion (Pink) Family [Caryophyllaceae]