Common chickweed

June 5, 2015

Stellaria media L. Vill. Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)

Life cycle

 Patch-forming, prostrate winter annual.

common chickweed plant
Common chickweed plant.

Leaves

Opposite, light green, rounded to egg-shaped leaves with pointed tips and smooth margins are hairless and short, hairy petioles.

common chickweed foliage and flowers
Common chickweed foliage and flowers.

Stems

Prostrate, smooth stems are spreading and branching to form dense patches. Stems are slender with upper portions growing erect.

Flowers and fruit

Small, white flowers have five petals. Each petal is notched deeply, resembling a pair of petals. Green, hairy sepals surround petals. Fruit are slightly curved, cylindricalshaped capsules that contain many tiny, brown seeds.

common chickweed flower
Common chickweed flower.

Reproduction

Seeds.

Similar weeds

Mouseear chickweed (Cerastum fontanum ssp. vulgare [Hartman] Greuter & Burdet) Differs by having a perennial habit with densely hairy, stalkless leaves and dark green foliage.

mouseear chickweed seedling mouseear chickweed plant
Mouseear chickweed seedling. Mouseear chickweed plant.

mouseear chickweed flowers mouseear chickweed flowers and fruit
Mouseear chickweed flowers. Mouseear chickweed flowering stem.

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