Mouseear chickweed

August 10, 2015

Cerastium fontanum ssp. vulgare (Hartman) Greuter & Burdet

Life cycle

Patch-forming perennial.

mouseear chickweed plant
Mouseear chickweed plant.

Leaves

Opposite, dark green, oval to spatula-shaped leaves with pointed tips and smooth margins are densely hairy and stalkless.

mouseear chickweed seedling
Mouseear chickweed seedling.

Stems

Prostrate, spreading stems are capable of rooting at the nodes to form dense patches. Stems are slender and very finely hairy with swollen nodes.

Flowers and fruit

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

mouseear chickweed flowers mouseear chickweed flowers & fruit
Mouseear chickweed flowers (left). Mouseear chickweed flowering stem (right).

Reproduction

Seeds and creeping stems.

Similar weeds

Common chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Vill.] Differs by having an annual habit with hairless leaves and light green foliage.

common chickweed plant common chickweed flower common chickweed foliage & flowers
Common chickweed plant (left). Common chickweed flower (middle). Common chickweed foliage and flowers (right).

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