Carnation & Campion (Pink) Family [Caryophyllaceae] |
status
flower
inner
morph
petals
5 (10)petals
stem
sex
18th April 2019, in farmers field on way to Swetterton, Cheshire. | Photo: © RWD |
It is often found on cultivated land and in other places with rich soils, such as fields normally occupied by cows or other animals. Here it is the large paler-green patches. But just occasionally in the upper reaches of saltmarshes near the sea. |
7th April 2010, roadside tree, by golfcourse, Greater Manchester. | Photo: © RWD |
It can grow all year round, but as these photos show, it seems to favour 3 weeks either side of the middle of April. |
18th April 2019, in farmers field on way to Swetterton, Cheshire. | Photo: © RWD |
A few flowers at the top of each stalk. |
20th April 2019, 4th enclosed park, Waterloo, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
A sprawling and highly branched annual which can often over-winter. |
20th April 2019, 4th enclosed park, Waterloo, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
The spent flowers which are turning to fruit hang downwards on Common Chickweed. |
20th July 2007, Cartmel, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
20th July 2007, Cartmel, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
13th Sept 2018, Carr Mill Dam, St Helens, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The stems grow up to 50cm and are much branched; the bottom part is missing from this specimen - these were sprawling and your Author had to feel his way down one stem but he never got to the bottom of it :-)
The leaves have stalks (sometimes short). Leaves vary from ovate to elliptical; some are even approximately cordate (Ace of Spades shaped) at their base. |
13th Sept 2018, Carr Mill Dam, St Helens, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The same specimen as above but dangled downwards from above. The stems are round with a single line of hairs down one side, until a branch, when the single line usually swaps sides. |
7th April 2010, roadside tree, by golfcourse, Greater Manchester. | Photo: © RWD |
Has a few flowers at the top, some yet to open; others turned downwards as they go to seed. |
13th Sept 2018, Carr Mill Dam, St Helens, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Has only 5 petals, but as with several other different Stellaria, the petals are deeply cleft almost to their bases. Only rarely do they have tiny petals or zero petals. |
13th Sept 2018, Carr Mill Dam, St Helens, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The flowers have but 3 styles (as do several other Stellaria) (only Wood Stitchwporthas 5 styles) sand between 3 to 5 (up to a maximum of 8) stamens (Lesser Stitchwort has only 1 to 2 stamens (up to 3 occasionally). |
20th April 2019, 4th enclosed park, Waterloo, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
The best characteristics to differentiate between Common Chickweed, Lesser Chickweed and Greater Chickweed are the number of stamens [3-5(8) for Common; 1-2(3) for Lesser; 10 for Greater] and the size of the seeds (not the seed pods!) [0.8 - 1.4mm for Common; 0.6 - 0.9mm for Lesser; 1.1 - 1.7mm for Greater] |
3rd May 2017, 4th enclosed park, Waterloo, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
Drooping downwards on the leftt is the seed pod. Directed upwards on the right is an opened seed pod, the pod having split open in 5 places. |
3rd May 2017, 4th enclosed park, Waterloo, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
An opened seed pod. |
31st March 2008, verge, Sandown, IoW. | Photo: (CC by 2.0) Geoff Toone |
3rd May 2017, 3rd enclosed park, Waterloo, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
The 5 petals are cleft almost down to their bases where the two halves join. 3 styles on the developing ovary surrounded by 3 anthers, two spent. The 5 sepals below the flower are pale-edged and pointed or bluntish at the ends. |
18th April 2019, in farmers field on way to Swetterton, Cheshire. | Photo: © RWD |
This specimen has 4 anthers . |
31st March 2008, verge, Sandown, IoW. | Photo: (CC by 2.0) Geoff Toone |
3 fuzzy styles in centre and 3 filaments which have shed their anthers. |
3rd May 2017, 3rd enclosed park, Waterloo, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
A pink anther at the top. |
13th Sept 2018, Carr Mill Dam, St Helens, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The hairs, only on one side of any stem. |
Not to be semantically confused with : Easily mistaken for : Greater Chickweed (Stellaria neglecta) and Lesser Chickweed (Stellaria pallida), see captions for differences.
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Stellaria | media | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Caryophyllaceae |
Stellaria (Stitchworts) |
Carnation & Campion (Pink) Family [Caryophyllaceae] |