Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Cerastium arvense Linnaeus subsp. strictum (Linnaeus) Ugborogho
(Field Chickweed)

Family: Caryophyllaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Cerastium oreophilum Greene
Cerastium scopulorum Greene
Cerastium strictum Linnaeus

Cerastium arvense subsp. strictum is a perennial chickweed with a spreading growth habit. It has small white flowers with cleft petals. The flowers are slightly larger than those of Cerastrium nutans, a very similar annual species. Although the petals are not cleft as deeply as in Stellaria species, it still can appear that the five petals are more like ten. The fruit is a hairy capsule.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Cerastium arvense, photo Russ Kleinman, Black Range, Rocky Canyon, May 3, 2008



Cerastium arvense, detail of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Black Range, Rocky Canyon, May 3, 2008



Cerastium arvense, rhizomatous, perennial growth pattern, photo Russ Kleinman, Black Range, Rocky Canyon, May 3, 2008



Cerastium arvense, scabrous sepals, photo Russ Kleinman, Black Range, Rocky Canyon, May 3, 2008


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