Lesser chickweed
Stellaria pallida

Family: Caryophyllaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It is much branched and yellowish-green. The stems are about 10-20 cm long and lie along the ground. There is a single row of hairs between each pair of nodes. The leaves are pale green and oval. They are 1.5 cm long by 7 mm wide. The leaves towards the end do not have stalks. The flowers are in groups at the ends of the branches. The flowers are small and 203 mm across. The seeds are pale yellow and about 0.7 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a cool temperate plant. It usually grows in coastal sand dunes or sandy soil. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Asia, Australia, Britain, Canada, Chile, China, Europe, Iraq, Mediterranean, Middle East, North America, South America, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten raw and added to salads.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gaqazila, Haval otu

Synonyms

Alsine pallida Dumort.; Stellaria abortiva Naudin; Stellaria boraeana Jord.; Stellaria media subsp. pallida Asch. & Graen.; Stellaria pallida (Dumort.) Crep.;