Cerastium arvense
- Latin Name: Cerastium arvense
- Family: Caryophyllaceae
- Common Names: starry cerastium, field chickweed, field mouse-ear chickweed
- Codon: CERARV
Contents
Taxonomy
Description
General: Tufted perennial, often forming loose mats to 4 dm. broad, glabrous to glandular-pubescent, the flowering stems 5-50 cm. tall.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, linear to narrowly lanceolate, 1-nerved, 1-3 cm. long; cauline leaves often with bundles of secondary leaves in their axils.
Flowers: Flowers 3 to 5 or more in an open inflorescence; pedicels slender, erect, 1-3 cm. long; sepals 5, 4-6 mm. long, with stalked glands; petals 5, white, twice as long as the sepals, deeply bi-lobed-obcordate; stamens 10; styles 5. Fruit: Capsule membranous, cylindric, slightly curved, 1.5 times as long as the sepals, opening by 10 teeth.
Bloom Period
April - Aug
Distribution
Both sides of the Cascades and in the Blue Mountains in Washington. Widely distributed throughout North America.
Habitat
Coastal cliffs to inland valleys, rocky hillsides, subalpine meadows.
Light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil medium
Acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
Dry or moist soil – drought intolerant
Sun – shade intolerant
Uses
Used by flies and small bees
The plant is astringent. A decoction of the plant has been used in the treatment of injuries and miscarriage
Propagation
It is suggested that the seed be sown in spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Division in spring. The prostate shoots root freely as they spread, making division very simple.
Seed
Seed sample from: 2011
Average Measurement: 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.5
Measurement Range: L: 0.75 – 1, W: 0.8 – 1, D: 0.4 – 0.6
Shape: Seed somewhat kidney shaped, narrower at hilum and broadening at opposite apex. Hilum pinched.
Color: Rusty brown to orange brown. Hilum white.
Surface: Matte and covered with many small bumps, arranged in concentric half circles originating at the hilum and broadening at the opposite apex.
Latitudinal Cross Section: elliptical 
Longitudinal Cross Section: obovate 
Basic Explanations and Assumptions:
The dimensions for the seeds are length x width x depth. The location of the hilum is used as the base of the seed, and the length is measured from hilum to the opposite apex. Where a style is present, the length is measured from the hilum to the bottom of the style. Width is measured at a right angle to the length at the widest part. Depth is measured at a right angle to the intersection of height and width lines.
Measurements included are the mean average for each measurement of ten separate seeds.
All measurements in millimeters unless otherwise noted.
Photo Gallery
Photo: Ray Izumi, 2010
