Common chickweed - Stellaria media (L.) Vill.

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 Aug 31 2009 004 — Common chickweed seedling

Common chickweed Cover Crop rating May 6 2015 (76) — Common chickweed

Common chickweed flower AgFarm April 2010 — Common chickweed flower

Chickweed seed AgFarm May 2010 — Common chickweed seed

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Plant & Pest Diagnostics