''Stellaria'' 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 about 190 species of

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 in 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 ...

, with a

cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, a cosmopolitan distribution is the range of a taxon that extends across most or all of the surface of the Earth, in appropriate habitats; most cosmopolitan species are known to be highly adaptable to a range of climatic and en ...

. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed.

Description

''Stellaria'' species are relatively small herbs with simple opposite leaves. It produces small flowers with 5

sepals A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 Etymology The term ''sepalum'' ...

and 5 white

petals Petals are modified leaves that form an inner whorl surrounding the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly coloured or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''coroll ...

each usually deeply cleft, or none at all, all free. Stamens 10 or fewer.Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. and Warburg, E.F. 1968. ''Excursion Flora of the British Isles''.

Uses

Some species, including ''

Stellaria media ''Stellaria media'', chickweed, is an annual flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to Eurasia and naturalized throughout the world, where it is a weed of waste ground, farmland and gardens. It is sometimes grown as a salad ...

'' which is widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, are used as

leaf vegetable Leaf vegetables, also called leafy greens, vegetable greens, or simply greens, are plant leaves eaten as a vegetable, sometimes accompanied by their petioles and shoots, if tender. Leaf vegetables eaten raw in a salad can be called salad gre ...

s, often raw in

salad A salad is a dish consisting of mixed ingredients, frequently vegetables. They are typically served chilled or at room temperature, though some can be served warm. Condiments called '' salad dressings'', which exist in a variety of flavors, a ...

s. This is a favored food of finches and many other seed-eating birds. Chickweeds 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

angle shades The angle shades (''Phlogophora meticulosa'') is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. It is distributed throughout Europe as far east as the Urals and a ...

heart and dart The heart and dart (''Agrotis exclamationis'') is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was Species description, first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae, 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. A familiar m ...

riband wave The riband wave (''Idaea aversata'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. Distribution It is an abundant species in Europe, the Near East and Nor ...

setaceous Hebrew character The setaceous Hebrew character (''Xestia c-nigrum'') is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. It is found in the Palearctic realm. It is a common specie ...

and the ''

Coleophora ''Coleophora'' is a very large genus of moths of the family Coleophoridae. It contains some 1,350 described species. The genus is represented on all continents, but the majority are found in the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Many authors have t ...

'' case-bearers ''C. coenosipennella'' (feeds exclusively on ''Stellaria'' species), ''C. lineolea'' (recorded on ''S. graminea''), ''C. lithargyrinella'' (recorded on ''S. holostea''), ''C. solitariella'' (feeds exclusively on ''S. holostea'') and ''C. striatipennella''. Several closely related plants referred to as chickweed, but which lack the culinary properties of plants in the genus ''Stellaria'', include members of the genus ''

Cerastium ''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 ...

'', of similar appearance to ''Stellaria'' and also in the (Caryophyllaceae).

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus ''Stellaria'': * ''

Stellaria abadensis ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * ''

Stellaria × adulterina ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * ''

Stellaria alaschanica ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * ''

Stellaria alaskana ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * ''

Stellaria × alpestris ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * ''

Stellaria alsine ''Stellaria alsine'', the bog stitchwort, is a species of herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the carnation family Caryophyllaceae. It grows in bogs and marshes in Europe and parts of North America. Description Bog stitchwort is a rhizomato ...

'' – bog stitchwort * ''

Stellaria alsinoides ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * ''

Stellaria altimontana ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * ''

Stellaria × ambigua ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * ''

Stellaria amblyosepala ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * '' Stellaria amplexicaulis'' * '' Stellaria anagalloides'' * '' Stellaria angarae'' * '' Stellaria angustifolia'' * '' Stellaria antillana'' * '' Stellaria apetala'' * '' Stellaria aphanantha'' * '' Stellaria aphananthoidea'' * '' Stellaria aquatica'' – water chickweed * '' Stellaria arenarioides'' * '' Stellaria arvalis'' * '' Stellaria australis'' * ''

Stellaria bayanensis ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

Stellaria decipiens ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * '' Stellaria decumbens'' * '' Stellaria delavayi'' * '' Stellaria depauperata'' * '' Stellaria depressa'' * '' Stellaria dianthifolia'' * '' Stellaria dichotoma'' * '' Stellaria dicranoides'' * '' Stellaria discolor'' * '' Stellaria edwardsii'' * '' Stellaria emirnensis'' * '' Stellaria erlangeriana'' * '' Stellaria eschscholtziana'' * '' Stellaria fennica'' * '' Stellaria fenzlii'' * '' Stellaria filicaulis'' * '' Stellaria filiformis'' * '' Stellaria fischeriana'' * '' Stellaria flaccida'' – forest starwort * '' Stellaria gracilenta'' * '' Stellaria graminea'' – lesser stitchwort * '' Stellaria gyangtseensis'' * '' Stellaria gyirongensis'' * '' Stellaria gyirongensis'' * '' Stellaria hebecalyx'' * '' Stellaria henryi'' * '' Stellaria hintoniorum'' * '' Stellaria howardii'' * '' Stellaria humifusa'' – saltmarsh starwort * '' Stellaria imbricata'' * '' Stellaria infracta'' * '' Stellaria inundata'' * '' Stellaria irazuensis'' * ''

Stellaria irrigua ''Stellaria irrigua'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common names umbrella starwort and umbellate starwort. It is native to western North America from Alaska and north-western Canada to the south-wester ...

'' * '' Stellaria jacutica'' * '' Stellaria koelzii'' * '' Stellaria kolymensis'' * '' Stellaria krylovii'' * '' Stellaria laeta'' * '' Stellaria lanata'' * '' Stellaria lanipes'' * '' Stellaria laxmannii'' * '' Stellaria leptoclada'' * '' Stellaria littoralis'' * '' Stellaria longifolia'' * '' Stellaria longipes'' – long-stalk starwort * '' Stellaria mainlingensis'' * '' Stellaria mannii'' * ''

'' – common chickweed * '' Stellaria merzbacheri'' * '' Stellaria miahuatlana'' * '' Stellaria minuta'' * ''

Stellaria minutifolia ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are ...

'' * ''

Stellaria montioides ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * '' Stellaria multiflora'' * '' Stellaria multipartita'' * ''

Stellaria neglecta ''Stellaria neglecta'', greater chickweed, is an annual plant, annual to short-lived herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to Europe and Asia, where it grows in hedges and woodland margins on neutral to ...

'' – greater chickweed * ''

Stellaria nemorum ''Stellaria nemorum'', also known by the common name wood stitchwort, is a stoloniferous herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family (bio ...

'' – wood stitchwort * '' Stellaria nepalensis'' * '' Stellaria nipponica'' * '' Stellaria nitens'' * '' Stellaria nubigena'' * '' Stellaria obtusa'' * '' Stellaria omeiensis'' * '' Stellaria ovata'' * ''

Stellaria ovatifolia ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * '' Stellaria oxycoccoides'' * ''

Stellaria palustris ''Stellaria palustris'', commonly known as marsh stitchwort, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family (biology), family of floweri ...

'' – marsh stitchwort * '' Stellaria papillata'' * '' Stellaria parviflora '' * '' Stellaria parviumbellata'' * '' Stellaria patens'' * '' Stellaria pauciflora'' * '' Stellaria pedersenii'' * '' Stellaria peduncularis'' * '' Stellaria pentastyla'' * ''

Stellaria persica ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * '' Stellaria petiolaris'' * '' Stellaria pilosoides'' * '' Stellaria pinvalliaca'' * '' Stellaria polyantha'' * '' Stellaria porsildii'' * '' Stellaria procumbens'' * '' Stellaria pterosperma'' * '' Stellaria pubera'' – star chickweed * '' Stellaria pulvinata'' * '' Stellaria pungens'' – prickly starwort * '' Stellaria pusilla'' * '' Stellaria radians'' * ''

Stellaria recurvata ''Stellaria recurvata'' is a species of plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominance (ecology), ...

'' * '' Stellaria reticulivena'' * ''

Stellaria rigida ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * '' Stellaria roughii'' * '' Stellaria ruderalis'' * '' Stellaria ruscifolia'' * '' Stellaria salicifolia'' * '' Stellaria sanjuanensis'' * '' Stellaria sarcophylla'' * '' Stellaria scaturiginella'' * '' Stellaria schischkinii'' * '' Stellaria semivestita'' * '' Stellaria sennii'' * '' Stellaria serpens'' * '' Stellaria sessiliflora'' * '' Stellaria sibirica'' * '' Stellaria sikaramensis'' * '' Stellaria sikkimensis'' * '' Stellaria sitchana'' * '' Stellaria soongorica'' * '' Stellaria souliei'' * '' Stellaria strongylosepala'' * '' Stellaria tetrasticha'' * '' Stellaria tibetica'' * '' Stellaria tomentella'' * '' Stellaria turkestanica'' * '' Stellaria uchiyamana'' * '' Stellaria uda'' * '' Stellaria venezuelana'' * '' Stellaria vestita'' * '' Stellaria viridifolia'' * '' Stellaria wallichiana'' * '' Stellaria weddellii'' * '' Stellaria williamsiana'' * '' Stellaria winkleri'' * '' Stellaria xanthospora'' * ''

Stellaria yungasensis ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively small ...

'' * ''

Stellaria yunnanensis ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are ...

'' * '' Stellaria zangnanensis'' * '' Stellaria zhuxiensis''

References

* ''Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West'', Gregory L. Tilford,

External links

* {{Authority control Caryophyllaceae genera Leaf vegetables Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus