CARYOPHYLLACEAE 



PINK FAMILY 



COMMON MOUSE-EAR CHICKWEED 



Cerastium 'Vulyatiim L. 



The Common Mouse-ear Chickweed is a native of Europe 

 and northern Asia and is one of the many plants that have been 

 accidentally introduced into this country from Europe. It is a 

 perennial which has spread over 

 nearly all of temperate North 

 America, where it is found in fields, 

 woods and dooryards, often be- 

 coming a troublesome weed. 



The whole plant is covered with 

 hairs and is usually somewhat clammy 

 or sticky. The stems are 6-18 inches 

 long and often repeatedly branched. 

 They are sometimes erect but more 

 often lean upon other plants or trail 

 on the ground. 



Blooming occurs throughout the 

 summer, from May to September, 

 at first with the flowers clustered but 

 as the stems and flower stalks lengthen, 

 the inflorescence becomes 

 very open. At length the 

 pedicels are much longer 

 than the calyx. The 

 flower is composed of <; 

 obtuse or acute green 

 sepals, about equaling the 

 5 white 2-lobed petals, 10 

 stamens and i pistil with 5 

 styles. The fruit is an 

 elongated and somewhat 

 curved, many-seeded cap- 

 sule which opens by 10 teeth at the top. 



Since the plant blooms all summer and the fruits mature 

 quickly, a very large number of seeds are produced each season. 

 This ability to produce seed so abundantly is one reason why 

 the Mouse-ear Chickweed has been able to spread extensively. 



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