Stellaria pubera

Star Chickweed

[ click on any image below to see larger version ]


Family: Caryophyllaceae

Mid-Atlantic bloom time: April - June

Unlike its weedy relative, Star Chickweed is a native species common in forests. Its flower has 5 petals, each split in two, giving the appearance of 10 white petals (hence its common name "Star"). The leaves on the fertile shoots differ greatly in size and shape from the sterile shoots.

The white petals are usually longer than the green sepals, which is a quick way to distinguish it from Common Chickweed (Stellaria media) which has petals shorter than its sepals.




22 April 2013
Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, Haymarket, VA
24 March 2016
Riverbend Park, Great Falls, VA
   




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