''Stellaria'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of about 190 species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

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

, with a cosmopolitan distribution. 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 and 5 white

petals Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corolla''. Petals are usually ...

each usually deeply cleft, or none at all, all free. Stamens 10 or fewer.

Uses

Some species, including '' Stellaria media'' which is widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, are used as

leaf vegetable Leaf vegetables, also called leafy greens, pot herbs, vegetable greens, or simply greens, are plant leaves eaten as a vegetable, sometimes accompanied by tender petioles and shoots. 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, mostly natural ingredients with at least one raw ingredient. They are typically served at room temperature or chilled, though some can be served warm. Condiments and salad dressings, which exist in a va ...

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 (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. ...

e of some Lepidoptera 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 first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. A familiar moth to many, it is considered one of the most commo ...

, riband wave,

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 ...

'' 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 plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. They are commonly called mouse-ear chickweed. Species are found nearly worldwide but the greatest concentration is in the northern tem ...

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

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus ''Stellaria'': * '' Stellaria abortiva'' * '' Stellaria alaschanica'' * '' Stellaria alaskana'' * '' Stellaria alsine'' – bog stitchwort * '' Stellaria alsinoides'' * '' Stellaria altimontana'' * '' Stellaria amblyosepala'' * '' Stellaria americana'' * '' Stellaria amplexicaulis'' * '' Stellaria anagalloides'' * ''

Stellaria angarae ''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 angustifolia'' * '' Stellaria antillana'' * '' Stellaria antoniana'' * '' Stellaria apetala'' * ''

Stellaria aphanantha ''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 aphananthoidea'' * '' Stellaria aquatica'' – water chickweed * ''

Stellaria arenarioides ''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 arvalis ''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 australis'' * '' Stellaria bistyla'' * ''

Stellaria blatteri ''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 borealis'' * ''

Stellaria brachypetala ''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 bungeana'' * '' Stellaria calycantha'' * ''

Stellaria celsa ''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 chilensis ''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 chinensis ''Stellaria chinensis'' is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae, the carrier shells. Description Similarly to other species within the family of the Carrier Shells, the beautiful sea snail collects ...

'' * '' Stellaria cilicica'' * ''

Stellaria circinata ''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 concinna ''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 congestiflora'' * ''

Stellaria corei ''Stellaria corei'', with the common names of Tennessee chickweed, star chickweed, Tennessee starwort, and Tennessee stitchwort, is a species of flowering plant native to parts of Eastern USA. Description ''Stellaria corei'' is similar to ''S ...

'' * ''

Stellaria crassifolia ''Stellaria crassifolia'', the fleshy starwort, is a species of flowering plant in the carnation family Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family of flowering plants. It is included in ...

'' * '' Stellaria crispa'' * '' Stellaria cryptantha'' * '' Stellaria cryptopetala'' * '' Stellaria cuonaensis'' * ''

Stellaria cupaniana ''Stellaria cupaniana'' is a species of plants in the family Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon order Caryophyllales in the ...

'' * ''

Stellaria cuspidata ''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 darvasievii'' * '' Stellaria davurica'' * '' Stellaria debilis'' * '' Stellaria decipiens'' * ''

Stellaria decumbens ''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 delavayi'' * '' Stellaria depauperata'' * '' Stellaria depressa'' * ''

Stellaria dianthifolia ''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 dichotoma'' * '' Stellaria dicranoides'' * '' Stellaria discolor'' * '' Stellaria edwardsii'' * '' Stellaria emirnensis'' * '' Stellaria erlangeriana'' * '' Stellaria eschscholtziana'' * ''

Stellaria fennica ''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 fenzlii'' * '' Stellaria filicaulis'' * '' Stellaria filiformis'' * ''

Stellaria fischeriana ''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 flaccida ''Stellaria flaccida'', the forest starwort, is a wildflower found in eastern and southern Australia. A small ground covering plant. It may grow to 50 cm tall, but usually seen shorter than this. A perennial or annual, with weak stems. Som ...

'' – forest starwort * '' Stellaria gracilenta'' * ''

Stellaria graminea ''Stellaria graminea'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common names common starwort, grass-leaved stitchwort, lesser stitchwort and grass-like starwort. Description It is a rhizomatous perennial herb p ...

'' – lesser stitchwort * '' Stellaria gyangtseensis'' * '' Stellaria gyirongensis'' * '' Stellaria gyirongensis'' * '' Stellaria hebecalyx'' * ''

Stellaria henryi ''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 hintoniorum'' * '' Stellaria howardii'' * ''

Stellaria humifusa ''Stellaria humifusa'', the saltmarsh starwort, is plant native to northern North America and Eurasia. References holostea Flora of Eastern Canada Flora of Eastern Europe Flora of Northern Europe Flora of Siberia Flora of Subarctic ...

'' – saltmarsh starwort * '' Stellaria imbricata'' * ''

Stellaria infracta ''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 inundata'' * '' Stellaria irazuensis'' * '' Stellaria irrigua'' * ''

Stellaria jacutica ''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 koelzii ''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 kolymensis'' * '' Stellaria krylovii'' * ''

Stellaria laeta ''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 lanata ''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 lanipes'' * ''

Stellaria laxmannii ''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 leptoclada'' * '' Stellaria littoralis'' * '' Stellaria longifolia'' * ''

Stellaria longipes ''Stellaria longipes'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common names longstalk starwort and Goldie's starwort. It has a circumpolar distribution, occurring throughout the northernmost latitudes of the Nor ...

'' – long-stalk starwort * '' Stellaria mainlingensis'' * ''

Stellaria mannii ''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 media'' – common chickweed * '' Stellaria merzbacheri'' * ''

Stellaria miahuatlana ''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 minuta'' * '' Stellaria minutifolia'' * '' Stellaria montioides'' * '' Stellaria multiflora'' * '' Stellaria multipartita'' * '' Stellaria neglecta'' – greater chickweed * '' Stellaria nemorum'' – 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 (biology), family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are ...

'' * '' Stellaria oxycoccoides'' * '' Stellaria palustris'' – marsh stitchwort * ''

Stellaria papillata ''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 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 (biology), family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are ...

'' * '' Stellaria petiolaris'' * '' Stellaria pilosoides'' * '' Stellaria pinvalliaca'' * ''

Stellaria polyantha ''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 porsildii'' * '' Stellaria procumbens'' * '' Stellaria pterosperma'' * ''

Stellaria pubera ''Stellaria pubera'', commonly called the star chickweed, is a spring-flowering plant in the carnation family Caryophyllaceae, native to the eastern United States. Habitat and range ''Stellaria pubera'' is widespread and common. Its natural hab ...

'' – star chickweed * '' Stellaria pulvinata'' * '' Stellaria pungens'' – prickly starwort * '' Stellaria pusilla'' * '' Stellaria radians'' * '' Stellaria recurvata'' * ''

Stellaria reticulivena ''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 rigida ''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 roughii ''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 ruderalis'' * ''

Stellaria ruscifolia ''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 salicifolia ''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 sanjuanensis'' * '' Stellaria sarcophylla'' * '' Stellaria scaturiginella'' * '' Stellaria schischkinii'' * ''

Stellaria semivestita ''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 sennii ''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 serpens ''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 sessiliflora ''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 sibirica ''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 sikaramensis'' * '' Stellaria sikkimensis'' * ''

Stellaria sitchana ''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 soongorica'' * ''

Stellaria souliei ''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 strongylosepala ''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 tetrasticha'' * '' Stellaria tibetica'' * ''

Stellaria tomentella ''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 turkestanica'' * '' Stellaria uchiyamana'' * '' Stellaria uda'' * '' Stellaria venezuelana'' * '' Stellaria vestita'' * '' Stellaria viridifolia'' * '' Stellaria wallichiana'' * '' Stellaria weddellii'' * ''

Stellaria williamsiana ''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 winkleri ''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 xanthospora'' * '' Stellaria yungasensis '' * '' Stellaria yunnanensis'' * '' Stellaria zangnanensis'' * '' Stellaria zhuxiensis''

References

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

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q156694 Caryophyllaceae genera Leaf vegetables Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus