Stellaria media (L.) Vill.
Family: Caryophyllaceae

Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)

none

Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)

common chickweed

Primary Disseminule Type

seed

Description (diagnostics are in brown)

Fruit an ovoid capsule 4–8 mm long, opening by 6 valves and containing many seeds.

Seed ± circular in outline, laterally compressed, cross-section wedge-shaped, 0.9–1.3 mm diameter x 0.5–0.7 mm thick. Surface dull, reddish-brown, covered with concentric rows of cells with interdigitating walls (like a jigsaw puzzle), cells of lateral faces with low, stelliform tubercles, cells of perimeter stelliform tuberculate to papillate.

Hilum in distinctive marginal notch.

Embryo peripheral, curving around the hard, semi-transparent perisperm.

Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)

AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI