Cerastium arvense
| Cerastium arvense | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Cerastium |
| Species: | C. arvense
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cerastium arvense | |
Cerastium arvense is a species of flowering plant in the pink family known by the common names field mouse-ear[1] and field chickweed.[2] It is a widespread species, occurring throughout Europe and North America, as well as parts of South America. It is a variable species. There are several subspecies, but the number and defining characteristics are disputed.[3]
Description
Cerastium arvense is a perennial herb growing up to 30[3] to 45[4] centimeters tall. It takes the form of a mat, clump, creeper, or upright flower, and may grow from a taproot or tangled system of rhizomes. It is usually somewhat hairy in texture, often with glandular hairs. The leaves are linear, lance-shaped, or oblong, and a few centimeters in length. The inflorescence may consist of a single flower to a dense cluster of many. The flower has five white petals, each with two lobes, and five hairy green sepals at the base. The fruit is a capsule up to 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) long with ten tiny teeth at the tip. It contains several brown seeds.
References
- ^ "Cerastium arvense (Field Mouse-ear)". Online Atlas of the British and Irish flora. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ "Cerastium arvense L." USDA. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ a b Flora of North America
- ^ "Jepson Manual Treatment". Regents of the University of California. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
External links
Media related to Cerastium arvense at Wikimedia Commons- Photo gallery
