Cerastium arvense

Cerastium arvense is a species of flowering plant in the pink family known by the common names field mouse-ear[1] and field chickweed.[2] It is a widespread species, occurring throughout Europe and North America, as well as parts of South America. It is a variable species. There are several subspecies, but the number and defining characteristics are disputed.[3]

The five white petals are 7.5 to 9 millimetres (0.30 to 0.35 in) long, deeply bilobate with round tips. At the center are ten yellow stamens and five styles.

Cerastium arvense
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Cerastium
Species:
C. arvense
Binomial name
Cerastium arvense

Description

Cerastium arvense is a perennial herb growing up to 30[3] to 45[4] centimeters tall. It takes the form of a mat, clump, creeper, or upright flower, and may grow from a taproot or tangled system of rhizomes. It is usually somewhat hairy in texture, often with glandular hairs. The leaves are linear, lance-shaped, or oblong, and a few centimeters in length. The inflorescence may consist of a single flower to a dense cluster of many. The flower has five white petals, each with two lobes, and five hairy green sepals at the base. The fruit is a capsule up to 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) long with ten tiny teeth at the tip. It contains several brown seeds.

References
  1. "Cerastium arvense (Field Mouse-ear)". Online Atlas of the British and Irish flora. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  2. "Cerastium arvense L." USDA. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  3. Flora of North America
  4. "Jepson Manual Treatment". Regents of the University of California. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
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