[Wang,2006]|
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Practical ecological knowledge for the temperate reader. |
Family: Caryophyllaceae (Pink family) [E-flora]
"Annual, perennial herb, erect to mat-forming; taproot or rhizomes present. Leaf: blade linear to ovate; vein 1; axillary leaf clusters generally 0. Inflorescence: terminal or axillary; flowers few to many, open to dense; pedicels 1–36+ mm. Flower: sepals (4)5, 3–12 mm, free, lanceolate to ovate, hairy to glandular-hairy, hairs generally not exceeding tip; petals 0 or (4)5, 2.5–15 mm, ± 2-lobed; stamens (4,5)10; styles (4)5, 0.5–3.3 mm. Fruit: capsule, cylindric, often ± curved in upper 1/2; teeth (8)10, spreading to recurved. Seed: several to many, pale to red-brown. ± 180 species: worldwide, especially northern temperate. (Greek: horn, from fruit shape) [Morton 2005 FNANM 5:74–93]" [Jepson]
"A genus of about 100 species, herbs, especially north temperate but nearly cosmopolitan." [Weakley FSMAS]
"Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium) Description: Species in this genus are annual or perennial herbs with entire- margined leaves opposite on the stem. The herbage is usually hairy and often sticky. The few to several (rarely solitary) flowers are borne in an open infloresc- ence. There are five petals and five sepals, and the petals are white and deeply lobed at the tip. The genus name is from the Greek keras, meaning horn, referring to the tapered capsule, which in some species is bent slightly like a cow’s horn." [Vizgirdas WPSN]
"Interesting Facts: Cerastium is frequently confused with Stellaria media (chick- weed), but to the general forager there is no danger. The tender leaves and stems of most Cerastium can be added to a salad, but we found they are better if boiled first and served as greens." [Vizgirdas WPSN]
"AKA: Adder's mouth, Cerastium vulgatum (mouse-ear chickweed), Indian chickweed, satin flower,
starweed, starwort, Stellaria media (common chickweed), Stellaria pubera (star chickweed),
stitchwort, tonguegrass, winterweed.
Effects: It is high in vitamin C. Herbalists have used it to treat arthritis, asthma, cancer, blood
disorders, constipation, eczema, fever, gout, hemorrhoids, infection, inflammation, obesity,
tuberculosis, bruises, nosebleeds, abscesses, and boils.
Precautions: There is no scientific evidence for any of its supposed health benefits, though it is
generally considered very safe.
Dosage: It is best used sparingly as a vegetable or salad green" [EHMEFD]
"Regarding two other species of desert truffle––Terfezia leptoderma (Castellano and Turkoglu 2012) and Picoa juniperi (Turkoglu and Yagiz 2012)––the only information provided is that they were associated with geranium, helianthemum and cerastium plants, meaning, most probably, that these plants were found in the vicinity of the truffles. The most probable host out of the three is Helianthemum spp.; however, this question requires further elucidation." [SoilBio-38]
Cerastium spp. are nonmycorrhizal members of Caryophyllaceae [Twardowska SWPMPR]
"Commercial cultivars used to restore waste areas are often selected on the basis of the highest biomass production at high fertilizer input. That often correlates with low or even no dependency on mycorrhizal fungi. After ca. 30 years these plants are substituted by spontaneous vegetation, which develops slowly but is able to build stable communities. Such succession of plants was documented at Trzebionka zinc wastes, where the highest parts of the heap are the youngest, and parts at the basis are the oldest (unpublished data). The first plants to appear on bare wastes were nonmycorrhizal members of Caryophyllaceae (Cerastium spp., Silene vulgaris) and Brassicaceae (Cardaminopsis arenosa). They are, however, ineffective in covering the tailing material. These plants are followed by the facultatively mycorrhizal ones, establishing better if mycorrhizal fungi are present." [Twardowska SWPMPR]
[Wang,2006]
Family: Caryophyllaceae (Pink family) [E-flora]
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"Cerastium arvense is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from Apr to August, and
the seeds ripen from May to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are
pollinated by Flies and small bees.The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH:
acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought."
[PFAF]
General:
Perennial herb from stolons or subrhizomes; often forming mats or clumps 10-40 cm wide; stems prostrate, branched, usually densely glandular-hairy
above and in the inflorescence, glabrous to hairy below the nodes, the flowering stems decumbent to erect, 5-40 cm tall/long. [IFBC-E-flora]
Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves opposite, mostly linear to lance-linear, 1-3 cm long, 1-7 mm wide, 1-nerved, greyish-green; with sterile branches
arising in most leaf axils; stipules lacking. [IFBC-E-flora]
Flowers:
Inflorescence of 3-6 flowers in an open cluster, rarely single; bracts of the inlorescence papery-margined; petals 5, white, egg-shaped, 8-12 mm long,
deeply 2-cleft; sepals 5, oblong-lanceolate, 4-6 (7) mm long, glandular-hairy. [IFBC-E-flora]
Fruits:
Capsules cylindric, 6-10 mm long, 10-valved; seeds golden to reddish-brown, 0.8-1.2 mm long, pimply. [IFBC-E-flora]
Notes:
Highly variable, often confused with C. beeringianum. [IFBC-E-flora]
Habitat / Range:
Moist to dry coastal bluffs, meadows, rockslides, rocky slopes and forest openings in all vegetation zones; frequent throughout BC;
circumpolar, N to AK, YT and NT, E to NF and S to NE, GA, NM and CA; Eurasia. [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Exotic [E-flora]
"Cerastium arvense Linnaeus ssp. strictum (Linnaeus) Ugborogho. Mt (WV): sandy and gravelly areas; rare. {overall distribution}. Reported for GA, TN, KY, WV, MD, DE, and NJ, among other states (Kartesz 1999), the GA record not validated in FNA." [Weakley FSMAS]
Medicinal Uses
The plant is astringent[257]. A decoction of the plant has been used in the treatment of injuries and miscarriage[257]. A decoction is said to stop uterine bleeding and prevents the child from passing through the uterus[257].[PFAF] Dermatological aid; Gynecological aid. [Heaton, 2004]
Cerastium arvense L. - Dermatological aid,gynecological aid [Heaton,2004]
Phytochemistry
Cerarvensin, 7-0-Glucoside, 4'-0-Glucoside, 2'-0-Glucoside [Andersen FCBA]
(5,7,4’-triOH 6-Xyl) Isomollupentin - Cerastium arvense (Caryo.) - Dubois et al. (1982) [Andersen FCBA]
(5,7,4’-triOH 6-Glc-8-Gal) Vicenin-3 - Cerastium arvense (Caryo.) - Dubois et al. (1984) [Andersen FCBA]
6-C-Xylosylapigenin (cerarvensin) [Andersen FCBA]
7-O-Glucoside - Cerastium arvense (Caryo.) - Dubois et al. (1980)[Andersen FCBA]
6-C-Arabinosylapigenin (isomollupentin) [Andersen FCBA]
7-O-Glucoside - Cerastium arvense (Caryo.) - Dubois et al. (1985) [Andersen FCBA]
7-O-Glucoside 2’’-O-arabinoside Cerastium arvense (Caryo.) Dubois et al. (1983) [Andersen FCBA]
7-O-Glucoside 2’’-O-xyloside Cerastium arvense (Caryo.) Dubois et al. (1983) [Andersen FCBA]
4’-O-Glucoside Cerastium arvense (Caryo.) Dubois et al. (1985) [Andersen FCBA]
2’’-O-Glucoside Cerastium arvense (Caryo.) Dubois et al. (1985)[Andersen FCBA]
Cultivation & Propagation
Cultivation
See the plants native habitat for ideas on its cultivation needs.[PFAF]
Propagation
Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed 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[200], making division very simple[K].[PFAF]
Subtaxa Present in B.C.
"Notes: Sometimes confused with C. fischerianum where their ranges overlap. Two subspecies occur in BC." [IFBC-E-flora]
"1. Stalks with very fine, short, glandular hairs; plants of S BC..................... ssp. earlei (Rydb.) Hult." [IFBC-E-flora]
"1. Stalks with long glandular hairs, plants of N BC..................... ssp. beeringianum" [IFBC-E-flora]
"Habitat / Range Dry rocky slopes, talus slopes and cliffs in the upper subalpine and alpine zones; common E of the Coast-Cascade Ranges, rare on Vancouver Island; circumpolar, N to AK, YT and NT, E to NF and S to UT, CO, AZ and CA; Asia." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Native [E-flora]
[1]
Cerastium fischerianum | 
[2]
Cerastium fischerianum |
Blue-listed in B.C. [E-flora]
"Habitat / Range Mesic gravelly shores and open slopes in the lowland to alpine zones; rare in SW BC, known from N Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands; amphiberingian, N to AK; E. Asia." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Native [E-flora]
Image References
[1]
Cerastium fontanum subsp. vulgare |
[2]
Cerastium fontanum |
"Cerastium fontanum is a ANNUAL/PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). It is in flower from Apr to June, and the seeds ripen from May to
July. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It
can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil." [PFAF]
"Habitat/Range Mesic to dry roadsides, waste places, gardens and fields in the lowland, steppe and lower montane zones; common in all but NC and NE BC; introduced from Eurasia." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Exotic [E-flora]
"Cerastium fontanum Baumgartner ssp. vulgare (Hartman) Greuter & Burdet, Common Mouse-ear. Mt (NC, SC, VA, WV), Pd (DE, NC, SC, VA), Cp (FL, NC, SC, VA): fields, disturbed areas; common (uncommon in DE, rare in FL), native of Europe." [Weakley FSMAS]
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. The subspecies C. fontanum grandiflorum is an annual, though subspecies C. fontanum vulgare is a short-lived perennial[266]. It is likely to require a moist soil in light shade.[PFAF]
"Cerastium fontanum is a very variable taxon, appearing as an annual or a short-lived perennial. It is common in certain areas, where it is seen in leys as well as in autumn-sown crops, but seldom abundantly in spring crops." [Hakansson WWM]
Propagation
Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed 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 might be possible.[PFAF]
Edible Uses
Cerastium fontanum Baumg - Whole plant - "Used in fever, coughs, & as refrigerant" [chandra2015]
Candidate plant for use in phytoremediation of radionuclides. [Gupta RCRTP]
"A number of grasses/legumes, herbs, shrubs, and trees have been investigated having potential to remediate various pol- lutants from soil. Cerastium arvense, Claytonia perfoliata, and Stellaria calycantha were found to uptake and accumu- late cadmium." [Phytorem2]
Image References
[1]
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"Cerastium glomeratum Thuillier, Sticky Mouse-ear. Cp (DE, FL, NC, SC, VA), Pd (DE, NC, SC, VA), Mt (NC, SC, VA, WV): fields, disturbed areas; common (uncommon in DE), native of Europe." [Weakley FSMAS]
"Habitat / Range Mesic to dry roadsides, waste places, lawns and pastures in the lowland, steppe and lower montane zones; common in SW BC, rare elsewhere in S BC and the Queen Charlotte Islands; introduced from Eurasia." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Exotic [E-flora]
Cerastium glomeratum Thuill. [Cerastium vulgatum L.] - Whole plant - Hemorrhage, refrigerant - Kapur and Nanda, 1992[Pullaiah EOI]
Cerastium glomeratum Thuill. - Whole plant - "Traditionally used as diuretic, galactofuge, & tonic" [chandra2015]
susceptibility to allelochemicals: "L-DOPA strongly inhibits the plant growth of Cerastium glomeratum, Spergula arvensis (both Caryophyllaceae), Linum usitatissimum and Lacutuca sativa, and moderately inhibits the growth of Compositae, while having very limited effects on Gramineae and Leguminosae...." [Cutler BANPA]
Remediation: "To screen new cadmium accumulator for phytoremediation of cadmium contaminated farmland soil, a pot experiment was done to study the cadmium accumulation characteristics and growth of Cerastium glomeratum exposed to different concentrations of cadmium. The results showed that with the increase of the cadmium concentration in soil, the biomasses and leaf light pigmentation content of C. glomeratum showed a decreasing trend. The cadmium contents in roots and shoots of C. glomeratum increased with the increase of cadmium concentration in soil. When the concentration of cadmium in the soil was 75 mg/kg, the cadmium content in roots and shoots of C. glomeratum was 684.78 mg/kg and 110.02 mg/kg, exceeding the critical value of cadmium hyperaccumulator. The root and shoot bioconcentration factors of C. glomeratum exceeded one, but the translocation factor was lower than one. Therefore, C. glomeratum was a cadmium accumulator. The cadmium accumulation in roots, shoots and whole plants of C. glomeratum showed the significant linear positive correlation with the concentration of cadmium in soil. In summary, C. glomeratum could be used for phytoremediation of cadmium contaminated farmland soil." [RongPing et al.,2015]
Synonyms
Image References
Subtaxa Present in B.C.
"Habitat / Range Moist to mesic streambanks, grasslands and open forests in the steppe and lower montane zones; infrequent in SC BC, rare in the Peace River area; N to S AK and S NT, E to PQ and NS, and S to SC, FL, UT, TX, AZ and OR." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Native [E-flora]
"Cerastium nutans Rafinesque. Mt (NC, SC, VA, WV), Pd (DE, NC, SC, VA), Cp (DE, VA): alluvial forests, bottomlands, moist forests; common (uncommon in NC, rare in DE). April-May. NS west to NT, south to SC, GA, AZ, Mexico, and OR." [Weakley FSMAS]
[1]
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Subtaxa Present in B.C.
"Habitat / Range Mesic to dry open, grassy sites in the lowland zone; frequent in SW BC; introduced from Europe." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Native [E-flora]
"Cerastium pumilum W. Curtis, Dwarf Mouse-ear. Cp (NC, VA), Pd (NC, SC, VA), Mt (NC, WV): disturbed areas; rare, native of Europe." [Weakley FSMAS]
Image References
| Young Plant |
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"Cerastium semidecandrum is a ANNUAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in). It is in flower from Apr to May. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects, self.The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil." [PFAF]
"Cerastium semidecandrum Linnaeus, Little Mouse-ear. Cp (DE, FL, NC, SC, VA), Mt (NC, VA, WV), Pd (NC, VA): disturbed areas; uncommon (rare in DE, FL, NC, and WV), native of Europe." [Weakley FSMAS]
[1]
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Image References
"Habitat / Range Disturbed areas in the lowland zone; rare in SW BC, known only from SE Vancouver Island and Vancouver; introduced from Europe." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Exotic[E-flora]
"Cerastium tomentosum Linnaeus, Snow-in-summer. Mt (NC, VA, WV): disturbed areas; rare, native of Eurasia. This species is "cultivated and sometimes escaped" in scattered locations in PA (Rhoads & Klein 1993)." [Weakley FSMAS]