Stellaria

Stellaria is a genus of about 90-120 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, commonly referred to as starworts or chickweeds. This genus is widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, with a few species extending into the Southern Hemisphere in South America and Australasia.

Description

Species of Stellaria are annual or perennial herbs. The leaves are opposite, and the flowers have five petals, typically split deeply, often appearing to be ten. The species exhibit a wide range of growth habits including annual and perennials, erect stems and sprawling, and vary in size from 2-60 cm tall.

Taxonomy

The genus Stellaria was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The name Stellaria comes from the Latin stella meaning star, referring to the shape of the flowers of many species.

Species

There are about 90-120 species in the genus. Some of the more common species include:

• Stellaria media (Common Chickweed)
• Stellaria longipes (Long-stalk Starwort)
• Stellaria holostea (Greater Stitchwort)
• Stellaria graminea (Lesser Stitchwort)

Ecology

Stellaria species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Silver-ground Carpet and The Gothic. Some species are commonly considered weeds, but they are also edible and can be used in salads or as leaf vegetables.

Uses

Some species of Stellaria, such as Stellaria media, are edible and are used in salads or as leaf vegetables. They are also used in traditional medicine for skin diseases and internal disorders.

See also

• List of Stellaria species
• Caryophyllaceae