Stellaria media
 |
 |
Photo Courtesy Renee Brecht |
Carl Axel Magnus Lindman: Bilder ur Nordens Flora (1901-1905) |
| Botanical name: | Stellaria media |
| Common name: | common chickweed |
| Group: | dicot |
| Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
| Growth type: | forb/herb |
| Duration: | perennial, annual |
| Origin: | introduced |
| Plant height: | 4 - 16" |
| Foliage: | Can be distinguised from other Stellaria by the fine hairs on only one side of the stem; other Stellaria are covered on the entire stem. Opposite leaves, rather egg shapedforming large mats, with trailing, weak stems. |
| Flower: | white, 5, deeply cut petals with 2 lobes; 1/4-1/2"; petals shorter than sepals or absent |
| Flowering time: | bloom early February to late November; most in April or May |
| Habitat: | weed of open, disturbed ground such as lawns, gardens, waste, woods, and edges |
| Range in New Jersey: | statewide |
| Heritage ranking, if any: | n/a |
| Distribution: |  |
| Misc.: | Edible as a salad green. Often prolific and control is problematic. |