Common chickweed

Stellaria media

"Stellaria media", chickweed, is an annual flowering plant in the carnation family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to Europe, but naturalized in many parts of North America. It is used as a cooling herbal remedy, and grown as a vegetable crop and ground cover for both human consumption and poultry.
Common Chickweed - Stellaria media Chickweed has small, white flowers that are produced at the tops of stems and in angles between branches. Flowers have 5 two-lobed petals, which makes it appear to have 10 tiny petals. The leaves are oval with pointed tips and are slightly hairy. Habitat: Growing in the brush next to a stream. Notes: Chickweed is not only a delicious edible, but it's also a medicinal plant. It contains saponins, which makes it soothing for the skin. It’s used for making salves for rashes, bug bites, and itchy skin. https://www.jungledragon.com/image/72009/common_chickweed_-_stellaria_media.html Common chickweed,Geotagged,Stellaria media,Summer,United States,chickweed

Appearance

The plants are annual and with weak slender stems, they reach a length up to 40 cm. Sparsely hairy, with hairs in a line along the stem.

The leaves are oval and opposite, the lower ones with stalks. Flowers are white and small with 5 very deeply lobed petals.
Common chickweed - Stellaria media Bulgaria,Caryophyllaceae,Caryophyllales,Common chickweed,Eudicot,Europe,Flowering Plant,Geotagged,Magnoliophyta,Nature,Plantae,Sofia,Spring,Stellaria media,Wildlife

Naming

"Stellaria" is derived from the word 'stellar' meaning 'star', which is a reference to the shape of its flowers. "Media" is derived from Latin and means 'between', 'intermediate', or 'mid-sized'.
Stellaria media Stellaria media http://flora-on.pt/#/1Stellaria+media http://www.floraiberica.es/floraiberica/texto/pdfs/02_049_19_Stellaria.pdf Caryophyllaceae,Common chickweed,Stellaria media,biodiversity,plantae,winter

Distribution

"Stellaria media" is widespread in North America, Europe and Asia.
Common chickweed, Heesch, Netherlands Flower closeup. Flower size ~1cm. Common chickweed,Diffuser,Europe,Heesch,Netherlands,Stellaria media,World,the Netherlands

Habitat

Very common in lawns, meadows, waste places and open areas.
Common Chickweed - Stellaria media Chickweed has small, white flowers that are produced at the tops of stems and in angles between branches. Flowers have 5 two-lobed petals, which makes it appear to have 10 tiny petals. The leaves are oval with pointed tips and are slightly hairy. Habitat: Growing in the brush next to a stream. Notes: Chickweed is not only a delicious edible, but it's also a medicinal plant. It contains saponins, which makes it soothing for the skin. It’s used for making salves for rashes, bug bites, and itchy skin. https://www.jungledragon.com/image/72008/common_chickweed_-_stellaria_media.html Common chickweed,Geotagged,Stellaria media,Summer,United States

Predators

The larvae of the European moth yellow shell, of North American moths pale-banded dart or dusky cutworm or North American butterfly dainty sulphur all feed on chickweed.
Common Chickweed At Fort Howard This is a picture of Common Chickweed at Fort Howard Park in Baltimore County, Maryland. Common chickweed,Geotagged,Stellaria media,United States,Winter

Defense

"S. media" contains plant chemicals known as saponins, which can be toxic to some species when consumed in large quantities. Chickweed has been known to cause saponin poisoning in cattle. However, as the animal must consume several kilos of chickweed in order to reach a toxic level, such deaths are extremely rare.
Common Chickweed - Stellaria media Chickweed has small, white flowers that are produced at the tops of stems and in angles between branches. Flowers have 5 two-lobed petals, which makes it appear to have 10 tiny petals. The leaves are oval with pointed tips and are slightly hairy. Habitat: Streamside Notes: Chickweed is not only a delicious edible, but it's also a medicinal plant. It contains saponins, which makes it soothing for the skin. It’s used for making salves for rashes, bug bites, and itchy skin. Common chickweed,Geotagged,Stellaria,Stellaria media,Summer,United States,chickweed

Uses

"Stellaria media" is edible and nutritious, and is used as a leaf vegetable, often raw in salads. It is one of the ingredients of the symbolic dish consumed in the Japanese spring-time festival, "Nanakusa-no-sekku".

References:

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