Mouseear Chickweed, Cerastium fontanum
Family: Carophyllaceae; Pink Family
Vegetative Characteristics:
Seedlings: hypocotyl light green, weak; adventitious roots arising from reclined seed leaf node; cotyledons green, initially with minute pubescence above.
Stems: erect to spreading, 5.0-50.0 cm tall, slender, weak, branches 1.5-5.0 cm long, prostrate basally, often rooting at lower nodes, pubescent; trichomes long, sticky
Leaves: opposite, 1.0-2.0 cm long, 3.0-12.0 mm wide, dull green, oval to elliptic, weakly nerved, upper surface and principal veins beneath pubescent; trichomes 0.5-1.0 mm long; petiole lacking
Reproductive Characteristics:
Inflorescences: usually in clusters of three at ends of stems, open; sepals 4-6 mm long, pubescent; petals white, notched at tip
Fruits: capsule 7.0-11.0 mm long, 2.0-3.0 mm wide, cylindrical to slightly curved, membranous
Seeds: triangular or angular-ovate in outline, 0.5-0.8 mm in diameter, flattened, chestnut brown, short irregular-knobby tubercles
Special Identifying Features:
⇒ Erect to spreading, tufted perennial; petals notched, white; fruit capsule curved; sepals and leaves pubescent
- Seeds
- Mature Plant
- Seedling
- Flower
- Cotyledons
- Young Plant
