| Common chickweed | ||||||||||||||
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 Closeup of the common chickweed.
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Stellaria media (L.) Vill. |
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Alsine media L. |
The common chickweed (Stellaria media) is a cool-season annual plant native to Europe, which is often eaten by chickens. It is commonly also called Chickenwort, Craches, Maruns, Winterweed. The plant germinates in fall or late winter, then forms large mats of foliage. Flowers are small and white, followed quickly by the seed pods. This plant flowers and sets seed at the same time.
In both Europe and North America this plant is an invasive weed of gardens [1], fields, and disturbed grounds. Control is difficult due to the heavy seed sets, although herbicides are effective when the plants are small. Common Chickweed is very competitive with small grains, and can produce up to 80% yield losses among barley.[2]
The plant has uses in folk Medici
Stellaria media is edible and nutritious, and is used as leaf vegetables, often raw in salads.[4]
Stellaria media is widespread in North America from the Brooks Range in Alaska to all points south within North America. There are several closely related plants referred to as chickweed, but which lack the culinary and medicinal properties of plants in the genus Stellaria. Plants in the genus Cera
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