Cerastium fontanum, also called mouse-ear chickweed, common mouse-ear, or starweed, is a species of mat-forming perennial or, rarely, annual plant. It is native to Europe but introduced elsewhere. Its identifying characteristics are tear-shaped leaves growing opposite one another in a star pattern, hairy leaves, and small white flowers. Mouse-ear chickweed typically grows to 4"-8" tall and spreads horizontally along the ground via the formation of roots wherever the stem falls over and contacts the ground.[1][2]
Cerastium fontanum is a low growing plant covered with small hairs which are not sticky, that is, without glandular tips. The erect flowering stems up to Шаблон:Convert long and leaves, opposite, up to Шаблон:Convert long without stalks. It has prostrate branches which do not bear flowers. The petals are shorter than the sepals or a little longer and are deeply divided. The flowers have 10 stamens with 5 styles.[3][4]
It is native to Europe, Greenland, the Himalayas and Japan.[5] It has been introduced to the Falkland Islands and MacQuarie Island.[5] It is common throughout Great Britain[3] and Ireland.[6]
Etymology
Cerastium is derived from the Greek word for 'horned', in reference to the shape of its fruit capsule.[7]
Fontanum means 'of fountains', 'of springs', or 'of fast-running streams'. It is a cognate with 'fountain' and 'font'.[7]
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