''Cerastium'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of annual, winter annual, or

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s belonging to the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family (biology), family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon order Caryophyllales in the APG III system, alongside 33 other families, including Amaranth ...

. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but with the greatest concentration in the northern temperate regions. A number of the species are common weeds in fields and on

disturbed ground In ecology, a disturbance is a change in environmental conditions that causes a pronounced change in an ecosystem. Disturbances often act quickly and with great effect, to alter the physical structure or arrangement of biotic and abiotic element ...

''Cerastium'' species are used as food plants by the

larva A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...

e of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) or lepidopterans is an order (biology), order of winged insects which includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organ ...

species including '' Coleophora chalcogrammella'' (which feeds exclusively on ''

Cerastium arvense ''Cerastium arvense'' is a species of flowering plant in the Caryophyllaceae, pink family known by the common names field mouse-ear and field chickweed. It is a widespread species, occurring throughout Europe and North America, as well as parts o ...

'') and ''

Coleophora striatipennella ''Coleophora striatipennella'' is a moth of the family Coleophoridae that is found in Europe and Near East. It has been introduced to New Zealand. The wingspan of . ''Coleophora'' species have narrow blunt to pointed forewings and a weakly define ...

'' (which has been recorded on '' Cerastium fontanum'').

Species

The following species in the genus ''Cerastium'' have been described: *'' Cerastium afromontanum'' *''

Cerastium akiyoshiense ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium aleuticum'' – Aleutian chickweed *''

Cerastium alexeenkoanum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium alpinum'' – alpine chickweed *''

Cerastium alsinifolium ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium amanum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium andinum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium apuanum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium arabidis ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium araraticum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium arcticum ''Cerastium arcticum'', the Arctic mouse-ear chickweed or Arctic mouse-ear, is a flower found in parts of western and southern Greenland, Baffin Island, Labrador, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Scotland, Norway and Svalbard. It is a perennial herb tha ...

'' – arctic mouse-ear chickweed *''

Cerastium argenteum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium argentinum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium armeniacum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

'' – field chickweed *'' Cerastium atlanticum'' *'' Cerastium axillare'' – Trans-Pecos chickweed *'' Cerastium azerbaijanicum'' *'' Cerastium azoricum'' *''

Cerastium baischanense ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium banaticum'' *'' Cerastium barberi'' *'' Cerastium beeringianum'' – Bering chickweed *'' Cerastium behmianum'' *'' Cerastium bialynickii'' *'' Cerastium biebersteinii'' – boreal chickweed *'' Cerastium × blyttii'' *''

Cerastium boissierianum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family (biology), family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly ...

'' *'' Cerastium borisii'' *'' Cerastium brachypetalum'' – gray chickweed *'' Cerastium brachypodum'' – shortstalk chickweed *'' Cerastium brevicarpicum'' *''

Cerastium × brueggerianum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium bulgaricum'' *'' Cerastium cacananense'' *'' Cerastium candicans'' *'' Cerastium candidissimum'' *'' Cerastium capense'' *'' Cerastium capillatum'' *'' Cerastium carinthiacum'' *'' Cerastium caucasicum'' *''

Cerastium chlorifolium ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium comatum'' *'' Cerastium commersonianum'' *'' Cerastium consanguineum'' *''

Cerastium crassipes ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium crassiusculum'' *'' Cerastium cuatrecasasii'' *'' Cerastium cuchumatanense'' *'' Cerastium cylindricum'' *''

Cerastium dagestanicum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium danguyi'' *'' Cerastium davuricum'' *'' Cerastium decalvans'' *'' Cerastium deschatresii'' *'' Cerastium dichotomum'' – forked chickweed *'' Cerastium dicrotrichum'' *''

Cerastium diffusum ''Cerastium diffusum'', the fourstamen chickweed or sea mouse-ear, is a species of flowering plant in the pink and carnation family Caryophyllaceae. It is an annual herb, up to 30 cm.high, occurring in western Europe and northern Africa. It ...

'' – fourstamen chickweed *'' Cerastium dinaricum'' *''

Cerastium dominici ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family (biology), family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly ...

'' *'' Cerastium elbrusense'' *'' Cerastium elongatum'' *'' Cerastium emesenum'' *''

Cerastium eriophorum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family (biology), family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly ...

'' *'' Cerastium falcatum'' *'' Cerastium fastigiatum'' *'' Cerastium filifolium'' *'' Cerastium fischerianum'' – Fischer's chickweed *''

Cerastium floccosum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium fontanum'' – common mouse-ear chickweed *'' Cerastium fragillimum'' *'' Cerastium furcatum'' – Korean mouse-ear chickweed *'' Cerastium gibraltaricum'' *'' Cerastium glabratum'' *'' Cerastium glomeratum'' – sticky chickweed *'' Cerastium gnaphalodes'' *'' Cerastium gracile'' – slender chickweed *'' Cerastium grandiflorum'' *''

Cerastium guatemalense ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium haussknechtii'' *''

Cerastium hemschinicum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium hieronymi'' *'' Cerastium hintoniorum'' *'' Cerastium holosteoides'' – common mouse-ear chickweed *'' Cerastium huadingense'' *''

Cerastium humifusum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium ibukiense'' *'' Cerastium igoschiniae'' *'' Cerastium illyricum'' *'' Cerastium imbricatum'' *'' Cerastium inflatum'' *''

Cerastium jiuhuashanense ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium julicum'' *'' Cerastium junceum'' *'' Cerastium juniperorum'' *'' Cerastium kasbek'' *'' Cerastium krylovii'' *'' Cerastium kunthii'' *'' Cerastium lacaitae'' *'' Cerastium × laestadianum'' *'' Cerastium lanceolatum'' *'' Cerastium latifolium'' *'' Cerastium lazicum'' *'' Cerastium ligusticum'' *'' Cerastium limprichtii'' *''

Cerastium lineare ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium lithospermifolium'' *'' Cerastium longifolium'' *'' Cerastium macranthum'' *'' Cerastium macrocalyx'' *''

Cerastium madagascariense ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium madrense ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium malyi'' *'' Cerastium maximum'' – great chickweed *''

Cerastium meridense ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium meyerianum'' *'' Cerastium microspermum'' *'' Cerastium moesiacum'' *'' Cerastium mollissimum'' *''

Cerastium morrisonense ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium mucronatum'' *'' Cerastium multiflorum'' *'' Cerastium nanhutashanense'' *'' Cerastium nanum'' *'' Cerastium nemorale'' *'' Cerastium neoscardicum'' *'' Cerastium nigrescens'' – Shetland mouse-ear chickweed *'' Cerastium novoguinense'' *'' Cerastium nutans'' – nodding chickweed *'' Cerastium obovatum'' *'' Cerastium octandrum'' *'' Cerastium odessanum'' *'' Cerastium oreades'' *'' Cerastium orithales'' *''

Cerastium × oxoniense ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium papuanum'' *'' Cerastium parvipetalum'' *'' Cerastium parvum'' *'' Cerastium pauciflorum'' *''

Cerastium pedunculare ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium pedunculatum'' *''

Cerastium perfoliatum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium peruvianum'' *'' Cerastium pisidicum'' *'' Cerastium polymorphum'' *'' Cerastium ponticum'' *''

Cerastium porphyrii ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium pospichalii ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium × pseudalpinum'' *'' Cerastium pumilum'' – European chickweed *''

Cerastium purpurascens ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium purpusii'' *'' Cerastium pusillum'' *'' Cerastium qingliangfengicum'' *'' Cerastium ramigerum'' *'' Cerastium ramosissimum'' *'' Cerastium rectum'' *'' Cerastium regelii'' – Regel's chickweed *'' Cerastium × richardsonii'' *'' Cerastium rivulare'' *'' Cerastium rivulariastrum'' *'' Cerastium ruderale'' *'' Cerastium runemarkii'' *'' Cerastium saccardoanum'' *'' Cerastium scaposum'' *''

Cerastium scaranii ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium schizopetalum'' *''

Cerastium schmalhausenii ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium selloi'' *'' Cerastium semidecandrum'' – five-stamen chickweed *'' Cerastium siculum'' *'' Cerastium sinaloense'' *''

Cerastium sinicum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium smolikanum'' *'' Cerastium soleirolii'' *'' Cerastium soratense'' *'' Cerastium sosnowskyi'' *''

Cerastium spathulatum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium subciliatum'' *''

Cerastium subpilosum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium subspicatum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium subtetrandrum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family (biology), family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly ...

'' *'' Cerastium subtriflorum'' – Slovenian mouse-ear chickweed *''

Cerastium sugawarae ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family (biology), family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly ...

'' *'' Cerastium supramontanum'' *'' Cerastium sventenii'' *'' Cerastium sylvaticum'' *''

Cerastium × symei ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium szechuense ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium szowitsii ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *''

Cerastium takasagomontanum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium taschkendicum'' *'' Cerastium tatrae'' *'' Cerastium terrae-novae'' – Newfoundland mouse-ear chickweed *'' Cerastium texanum'' – Texas chickweed *'' Cerastium theophrasti'' *'' Cerastium thomasii'' *'' Cerastium thomsonii'' *''

Cerastium tianschanicum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium tolucense'' *'' Cerastium tomentosum'' – snow-in-summer *'' Cerastium transsilvanicum'' *'' Cerastium trianae'' *'' Cerastium trichocalyx'' *''

Cerastium × triculinum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium tucumanense'' *'' Cerastium undulatifolium'' *'' Cerastium uniflorum'' - glacier mouse-ear *'' Cerastium utriense'' *'' Cerastium vagans'' *''

Cerastium velutinum ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family (biology), family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly ...

'' *'' Cerastium venezuelanum'' *'' Cerastium verecundum'' *'' Cerastium verticifolium'' *'' Cerastium viride'' *'' Cerastium viscatum'' *''

Cerastium vourinense ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium vulcanicum'' *'' Cerastium wilhelmianum'' *''

Cerastium wilsonii ''Cerastium'' is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ears or mouse-ear chickweeds. There are 214 accepted species, found nearly worldwide but wi ...

'' *'' Cerastium zhiguliense''

References

{{Authority control Caryophyllaceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus