Kingdom Plantae Family Caryophyllaceae Scientific name Stellaria holostea Rank Species | Order Caryophyllales Genus Stellaria Higher classification Stitchwort | |
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Similar Stitchwort, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria nemorum, Caryophyllaceae, Silene dioica | ||
Greater stitchwort stellaria holostea addersmeat 2013 05 19
Stellaria holostea, the addersmeat or greater stitchwort, is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the carnation family Caryophyllaceae.
Contents
Spring wild food salads with stichwort stellaria holostea
Description
It can grow up to 60 cm in height, with roughly 4-angled stems. The long, narrow (lanceolate) leaves are greyish green, hairless, sessile, opposite and decussate (the successive pairs borne at right angles to each other). The flowers are white, 20-30mm across with five petals split to about halfway down and much shorter sepals.
Etymology
Stellaria, the genus name, means 'star-like'. The specific epithet holostea comes from the Greek holosteon, literally meaning 'entire bone'; a reference to the brittleness of the weak stems of this plant. The common name Stitchwort is a reference to a herbal remedy in which this plant is used allegedly to cure side stitch, which afflicts many people when they try to run without stretching first.
Distribution
Stellaria holostea is native to Western and Central Europe, including the British Isles.
