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Species
Cerastium fontanum subsp. triviale (Spenn.) Jalas [= Cerastium fontanum subsp. vulgare]
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Cerastium fontanum, also called Mouse-ear chickweed, Common mouse-ear, or Starweed is a species of mat forming perennial, or rarely, annual plant. It is native to Europe but introduced elsewhere. Mouse-ear chickweed's identifying characteristics are tear-shaped leaves growing opposite one another in a star pattern, hairy leaves, and small white flowers. Mouse-ear chickweed typically grows to 4"-8" tall vertically and spreads horizontally along the ground via the formation of roots wherever the stem falls over and contacts the ground.
References
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Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cerastium_fontanum&oldid=549454166 |
Plants perennial (rarely annual), tufted to mat-forming, often rhizomatous. Stems: flowering stems erect from decumbent base, branched proximally, 10-45 cm, softly pubescent, eglandular with straight hairs; nonflowering shoots, when present, produced proximally, decumbent, rooting at nodes, branched, 5-20 cm, often subglabrous with alternating lines of eglandular hairs; small axillary tufts of leaves usually absent. Leaves not marcescent; blade 10-25(-40) × 3-8(-12) mm, densely covered with patent to ascending, colorless, long, eglandular hairs; leaves of flowering shoots in distant pairs, sessile, blade elliptic to ovate-oblong, apex subacute; leaves of sterile shoots pseudopetiolate, often spatulate, blade oblanceolate, apex obtuse. Inflorescences lax, 3-50-flowered cymes; bracts lanceolate, reduced, herbaceous, eglandular-pubescent, distal often with narrow, scarious margins. Pedicels somewhat curved distally, 2-10(-20) mm, longer than sepals, densely pubescent with patent, eglandular, rarely glandular hairs. Flowers: sepals ovate-lanceolate, 5-7 mm, margins narrow, apex acute, scarious, pubescent with eglandular, rarely glandular, hairs; petals oblanceolate, 1-1.5 times as long as sepals, apex deeply 2-fid; stamens 10, occasionally 5; styles 5. Capsules narrowly cylindric, curved, 9-17 mm, ca. 2 times sepals; teeth 10, erect, margins convolute. Seeds reddish brown, 0.4-1.2 mm, bluntly tuberculate; testa not inflated, tightly enclosing seed. 2n = 122-152, usually 144.
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Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242000274 |
Syntype for Cerastium vulgatum var. peruvianum A. Gray in Wilkes
Catalog Number: US 9309
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): Wilkes Explor. Exped.
Year Collected: 1838
Locality: Baños, Peru, South America
- Syntype: Wilkes, C. 1854. U.S. Explor. Exped. 15: 120.
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Rights holder/Author | This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. Unless otherwise noted, this image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. |
Source | http://collections.mnh.si.edu/search/botany/?irn=2790932 |
Holotype for Cerastium vulgatum var. andinum A. Gray in Wilkes
Catalog Number: US 9310
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): Wilkes Explor. Exped.
Year Collected: 1838
Locality: Rio Huallaga, margen Derecha del; Balsa Probana; dtto. Tocache Nuevo, Mariscal Cáceres, San Martín, Peru, South America
- Holotype: Wilkes, C. 1854. U.S. Explor. Exped. 15: 120.
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Rights holder/Author | This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. Unless otherwise noted, this image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. |
Source | http://collections.mnh.si.edu/search/botany/?irn=2075168 |
Common Mouse-Eared Chickweed occurs in every county of Illinois; it is quite common (see Distribution Map). This species was introduced from Eurasia. Habitats include fields, pastures, lawns, gardens, roadsides, areas along railroads, areas adjacent to buildings, vacant lots, degraded grassy meadows, and waste areas. Areas with a history of disturbance provide preferred habitats.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/cmme_chickweed.htm |
Forests, forest margins, mountain slopes, hilltop grasslands, fields, sandy soils, rock crevices, roadsides; 100--4300 m.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242000274 |
Cerastium fontanum (Common Mouse-Eared Chickweed) introduced
(Insects suck nectar; observations are from Robertson)
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera; Apidae (Bombini): Bombus pensylvanica; Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina dupla dupla; Megachilidae (Stelidini): Stelis lateralis
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Augochlorella aurata, Halictus confusus; Colletidae (Hylaeinae): Hylaeus mesillae; Andrenidae (Andreninae): Andrena personata
Wasps
Vespidae (Eumeninae): Stenodynerus oculeus
Flies
Syrphidae: Sphaerophoria contiqua, Toxomerus marginatus; Bombyliidae: Toxophora amphitea; Conopidae: Zodion fulvifrons; Tachinidae: Gymnoclytia immaculata, Tachinomyia panaetius
- Hilty, J. Editor. 2015. Insect Visitors of Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. illinoiswildflowers.info, version (09/2015)
See: Abbreviations for Insect Activities, Abbreviations for Scientific Observers, References for behavioral observations
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2015 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/flower_insects//plants/cmme_chickweed.htm |
The flowers attract various bees and flies; these insects suck nectar primarily, although some Syrphid flies feed on the pollen and some of the smaller bees (e.g., Halictid bees) collect pollen for their larvae. The caterpillars of several moths feed on the foliage of Chickweeds (Cerastium spp., Stellaria spp.), including Agrostis venerabilis (Venerable Dart), Haematopis grataria (Chickweed Geometer), and Lobocleta ossularia (Drab Brown Wave). Sparrows and other small granivorous songbirds eat the seeds of Chickweeds. Because Common Mouse-Eared Chickweed is one of the larger Chickweeds that grows during the summer, the Cottontail Rabbit nibbles on its foliage occasionally. Photographic Location
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/cmme_chickweed.htm |
Foodplant / sap sucker
nymph of Berytinus crassipes sucks sap of Cerastium fontanum
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / sap sucker
adult of Neides tipularius sucks sap of Cerastium fontanum
Foodplant / sap sucker
adult of Peritrechus lundi sucks sap of seed of Cerastium fontanum
Foodplant / sap sucker
Rhopalus parumpunctatus sucks sap of seed of Cerastium fontanum
Other: major host/prey