Bog Stitchwort
Lesser Stitchwort
Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea HEIGHT to 50cm
Perennial of open woodland, meadows and hedgerows, mainly on acid soils. Note smooth-edged stems. FLOWERS White, 5–15mm across, with 5 deeply divided petals (May–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Long, narrow, smooth-edged and grass-like. STATUS Widespread and common throughout. Bog Stitchwort S. alsine is similar but tiny and straggling. Flowers 5–7mm across, petals deeply divided and shorter than sepals (May–June). Widespread in damp places.
Burbidge, Brinsley
Wood Stitchwort
Wood Stitchwort Stellaria nemorum
Rather straggly perennial with hairy stems. Found in damp woodland. FLOWERS White, 15–20mm across, the petals deeply divided into narrow lobes (May–Aug). Petals twice as long as sepals. FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Oval, pointed; the lower ones stalked, the upper ones sessile. STATUS Widespread but local.
Common Chickweed
Common Chickweed Stellaria media HEIGHT to 30cm
Annual of disturbed ground. Sometimes prostrate. Stems hairy in lines on alternate sides between leaf nodes. FLOWERS White, 5-petalled, 5–10mm across; 3–8 stamens (Jan–Dec). FRUITS Capsules on long, drooping stalks. LEAVES Oval, fresh green and opposite; upper ones unstalked. STATUS Widespread and common.
Greater Chickweed
Greater Chickweed Stellaria neglecta
Annual or short-lived perennial of damp, shady ground. Similar to Common Chickweed but more robust. Stems hairy in lines on alternate sides between leaf nodes. FLOWERS White, 5-petalled, 10–12mm across; 10 stamens (Apr–July). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Oval, in opposite pairs. STATUS Local.
Common Mouse-ear
Common Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum HEIGHT to 30cm
Hairy perennial, found in gardens and grasslands, and on disturbed ground. Flowering and non-flowering shoots occur. FLOWERS White, 5–7mm across, with 5 deeply notched petals (Apr–Oct). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Grey-green, in opposite pairs. STATUS Widespread and common throughout.
StickyMouse-ear
Sticky Mouse-ear Cerastium glomeratum HEIGHT to 40cm
Annual with sticky, glandular hairs. Found on dry, bare ground. FLOWERS White, 10–15mm across, with 5 deeply notched petals; in compact, clustered heads (Apr–Oct). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Pointed-ovate, in opposite pairs. STATUS Widespread and common throughout.
Alpine Mouse-ear
Alpine Mouse-ear Cerastium alpinum
Tufted, mat-forming perennial whose stems and leaves bear long white hairs. Found on stony ground on mountains. FLOWERS White, 18–25mm across, with 5 notched petals (June–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Ovate, the bracts having membranous margins. STATUS Local and scarce, restricted to mountains.
Burbidge, Brinsley
Field Mouse-ear
Field Mouse-ear Cerastium arvense
Spreading, downy perennial of dry, free-draining ground, mainly on calcareous or gravelly soils. Sometimes forms sizeable patches. FLOWERS White, 12–20mm across, with 5 deeply notched petals (Apr–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Ovate, paired. STATUS Local, mainly in E England.
Sea Mouse-ear
Sea Mouse-ear Cerastium diffusum
Low annual that is sometimes prostrate. Covered in sticky hairs and found on sandy ground, mainly near the sea. FLOWERS White, 3–6mm across, with 4 notched petals (Apr–July). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Ovate, dark green; bracts do not have transparent margins. STATUS Locally common near the coast but scarce inland.
