Common chickweed - Stellaria media (L.) Vill.

Common chickweed plant with white flowers growing in the soil.

Common chickweed - Stellaria media (L.) Vill.

Common Chickweed – Stellaria media (L.) Vill.

Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)

MI Status

Non-native

Life Cycle

Winter annual

Leaves

Leaves are opposite, teardrop shaped, light green in color, and toothless along their margins. The leaves are hairless on the upper surface while the lower surface may have sparse hairs. Petioles, when present, are hairy.

Stems

Stems are branching and low growing or prostrate. They are light green in color and have a line of hairs down each side.

Flowers and fruit

Flowers are very small and consist of 5 white, deeply notches petals. Each flower will be replaced by a cylindrical seed capsule. The capsules contain many minute seeds. The tiny seeds are pale tan to a reddish brown in color.

Reproduction

Seeds.

Common chickweed seedling with cotyledons that are ovate with a hairy stalk as long as the blade. — Common chickweed seedling

Common chickweed mature plant with white flowers. Stems are prostrate and branching. Stems and leaves are light green. — Common chickweed

White common chickweed flower. The flowers are small and consist of 5 sepals and 5 white petals. — Common chickweed flower

Common chickweed seed. Seeds are flattened, circular with marginal notch. They are light brown to reddish in color. — Common chickweed seed

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Plant & Pest Diagnostics