little mouse-ear chickweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• chickweed
• Common Chickweed
• lesser chickweed
• little mouse-ear chickweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Stellularia media
• Alsine media

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Caryophyllales and the family Caryophyllaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Stellaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several regions within Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark and Finland. The species also extends its range to the Faroe Islands, known locally as Føroyar. Furthermore, its distribution includes the various territories of Great Britain. Finally, the plant is documented to thrive in the unique landscapes of Iceland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Stellaria media is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a broad altitudinal distribution. It thrives across an extensive elevational range, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to high-altitude environments reaching 4000 m AMSL. Its habitat preferences are highly varied, allowing it to colonize both disturbed and natural ecosystems; it is frequently found in anthropic areas (Área Antrópica), as well as in specialized natural formations such as high-altitude grasslands (Campo de Altitude), open fields (Campo Limpo), and coastal restinga ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

4000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campo de Altitude, Campo Limpo, Restinga

Genetics

The genetics of Stellaria media are characterized by significant cytogenetic complexity and variability, primarily evidenced by its diverse chromosomal configurations. The species exhibits a range of chromosome numbers, specifically recorded as 28, 36, and 44, which indicates a high degree of intra-specific variation. This variability is closely linked to its ploidy levels, where the base haploid number is denoted as n. Such fluctuations in chromosome counts suggest that the plant utilizes various mechanisms of polyploidy and genome duplication to adapt to different ecological niches, contributing to its widespread evolutionary success and morphological plasticity.

Chromosome number :

28, 36, 44

Ploidy :

n

Life history

The life history of Stellaria media is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, completing its entire reproductive cycle within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives unfavorable conditions through the production of seeds rather than maintaining persistent above-ground or below-ground vegetative structures. This life form strategy allows it to colonize disturbed habitats rapidly, utilizing its ephemeral nature to exploit seasonal resources. Regarding its foliage, the plant exhibits an evergreen habit, maintaining its green leaves throughout its short life cycle to maximize photosynthetic efficiency.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Stellaria media is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, specifically classified as a forb. This terrestrial plant exhibits an independent lifestyle, functioning neither as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. The shoot orientation is primarily ascending, with shoot lengths ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 40 cm. In terms of stature, the plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber (such as a vine or liana). Its overall height is variable, with a minimum recorded height of 0.01 m, a maximum of 0.8 m, and a mean plant height of approximately 0.20 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.202666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.01 m

Shoot length max:

40 cm

Shoot length min:

10 cm

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Stellaria media is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic efficiency in temperate environments. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than supplemental insectivory, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer. The leaf morphology plays a critical role in its resource management, featuring an elliptic leaf form with a mean leaf size of 4.88 cm². The leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability, with a mean length of 2 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 3 cm) and a mean width of 1 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm). Furthermore, the plant maintains a high Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 536.81 cm²/g, suggesting a strategy of maximizing light interception through relatively thin, high-surface-area foliage.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf length mean:

2 cm

Leaf length min:

0.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

4.88 cm²

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

536.81 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Stellaria media is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate efficient genetic exchange. The plant features small, white flowers, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.6 cm. These flowers exhibit a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects such as bees to achieve fertilization, although self-fertilization is also present. The flowering period is highly flexible and extensive, potentially spanning from January through December. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry, dehiscent capsules as its fruit type, with fruit lengths measuring between 0.35 cm and 0.7 cm. These capsules are highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are minute, with a mean length of approximately 1 mm (ranging from 1 to 1.1 mm) and a mean volume of 0.57 mm³ (ranging from 0.52 to 0.65 mm³). While the mean seed mass is recorded at 0.0025233555 g, the individual seed mass varies significantly, with a maximum noted at 6e-04 g. For dispersal, the plant utilizes an anemochorous syndrome, allowing seeds to be spread by the wind, though it is also categorized under an unspecialized dispersal syndrome. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower length max:

0.6 cm

Flower length min:

0.3 cm

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit length min:

0.35 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

1.1 mm

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

6e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0025233555 g

Seed mass min:

0 g

Seed volume max:

0.65 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.57 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.52 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Stellaria media has 116 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Coumarins, Flavonoids, IRON, POTASSIUM, Saponins.

Coumarins

1. Dr. Duke
2. BioMed research international

Flavonoids

1. Dr. Duke
2. BioMed research international

IRON

1. Dr. Duke
2. PeerJ

POTASSIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. PeerJ

Saponins

1. Dr. Duke
2. BioMed research international

10-HYDROXYOCTADECANOIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

10-Hydroxydecanoic acid

1. Dr. Duke

10-hydroxydocosanoic Acid

1. Dr. Duke

10-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid

1. Dr. Duke

11-Hydroxydocosanoic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Stellaria media has 576 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiproliferative, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antiproliferative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Stellaria media has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Leishmaniasis, hepatoma.

Leishmaniasis

1. BioMed research international

Hepatoma

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Preparations

Stellaria media has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Dry powder.

Dry powder

1. BioMed research international