Common Australian Garden Weeds

Stellaria media

Scientific name: Stellaria media (L.) Cyr.


Habit of chickweed (Stellaria media) growing in a lawn.


Oppositely arranged leaves of chickweed with pointed tips and wedge-shaped bases.


Photo showing a flower (centre), immature fruit (right) and mature fruit (upper left).


Seedling of chickweed.

Synonym: Alsine media L.

Common name: Chickweed

Family: Carophyllaceae

Origin:

Native of Europe.

Habit:

Annual herb with sprawling stems forming soft mats.

Habitat:

Common weed of gardens and disturbed ground, thrives in damp positions.

General description:

Stems and leaves
Stems are angular and softly hairy. The leaves are oval, with a point at the tip and a wedge shaped base (0.5-2.5 x 0.3-1.5 cm in size). The lower leaves have petioles (leaf stalks) 0.5-2 cm long while the upper leaves are more or less stalkless (sessile).
Flowers and fruit
The flowers are small with five white petals (3-4 mm long). They are borne in clusters at the ends of the branches. Flowering occurs during spring. The fruit are egg-shaped capsules, 4-6 mm long, containing small, dark brown, warty seeds.

Distinguishing features:

Annual herb with delicate, sprawling, angular stems that are softly hairy. Plants form mats up to one metre across in damp conditions.

Noxious status:

Not noxious.

Sources:

Kleinschmidt, H.E., Holland, A. and Simpson, P. (1996). Suburban Weeds. 3rd Edition. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 1. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Auld, B.A. and Medd, R.W. (1996). Weeds: An Illustrated Guide to the Weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Sydney.