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field chickweed
Scientific Name: Cerastium arvense ssp. velutinum var. villosum
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Cerastium arvense: Field Chickweed and Field Mouse-Ear
Cerastium arvense, a member of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae), is commonly known as field chickweed or field mouse-ear chickweed.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Cerastium arvense L.
- Family: Caryophyllaceae (Pink or Carnation family)
- Synonyms: Cerastium arvense ssp. strictum
Distribution and Habitat
This widespread species is found throughout Europe and in parts of North and South America. It is present in northeastern North America and is a common pasture weed throughout the United States, except for the southern third of the country. It typically inhabits open, grassy, or rocky habitats, dry banks, limy soils, and coastal headlands. It can also be found at high elevations in the western mountains of the Americas.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Cerastium arvense is a perennial herb that forms loose mats.
- Stems are trailing or decumbent, branched above, and range from 5 to 30 cm in length.
- Leaves are lanceolate to oblong, 1 to 3 cm long, with fascicled leaves below. They can be linear to widely lance-shaped, 1/3 to 1/2 inch long, with pointed tips.
- The plant does not flower in its first year.
- Flowers are white and arranged in an open, branched cluster at the stem tip.
- Each flower has 5 deeply notched petals, often giving the appearance of 10 petals.
Ecological Role
Field chickweed is sometimes regarded as a common pasture weed.
Further Information
More information can be found on the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) website and Wikimedia Commons.