Five-stamen mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium semidecandrum, Sp. Pl.: 438 (1753))

Family: Caryophyllaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 438 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Cerastium

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe, Medit. to C. Asia and Afghanistan

Description

The Five-stamen mouse-ear chickweed, scientifically known as Cerastium semidecandrum, is an intriguing species that belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. First described and cataloged by Linnaeus in 1753, this plant can be encountered across a vast geographical range that includes Europe, the Mediterranean region, Central Asia, and Afghanistan.

Distinguished by its modest height and delicate white flowers, the Five-stamen mouse-ear chickweed is a resilient plant, often found thriving in sandy or rocky soils. Its diminutive stature does not detract from its ecological significance; it plays a crucial role in its native habitats. The plant is characterized by its small, oval-shaped leaves, which are covered in fine hairs, giving them a slightly fuzzy appearance.

The name “five-stamen” aptly describes the plant’s floral structure, where each flower typically presents five prominent stamens. This feature is a distinctive trait that helps in the identification of the species. The flowers, while not showy, contribute to the plant’s charm and are vital for attracting various pollinators, thus supporting the ecosystem’s biodiversity.

Moreover, the Five-stamen mouse-ear chickweed has adapted well to a variety of climates and conditions within its native range. From the temperate regions of Europe to the more arid areas of Central Asia and Afghanistan, this plant demonstrates an impressive adaptability. This wide distribution is a testament to its hardiness and ecological versatility.

In natural history, Cerastium semidecandrum holds a place of importance not only for botanists but also for ecologists who study plant distribution and adaptation. Its presence can be an indicator of soil health and the overall condition of the habitat.

In summary, the Five-stamen mouse-ear chickweed is more than just a common plant; it is a symbol of resilience and adaptability within the Caryophyllaceae family. Its widespread occurrence from Europe to Central Asia underscores its ecological significance and the intricate balance of natural habitats where it thrives.

Common Names

Dan: femhannet hønsetarm
Eng: fivestamen chickweed, little mouse-ear, five-stamen mouse-ear chickweed, five-stamen chickweed, scarious chickweed, little chickweed, small chickweed
Deu: sand-hornkraut, sandhornkraut
Fra: céraiste des sables, céraiste à cinq étamines
Nor: smaavære
Swe: vårarv
Nld: zandhoornbloem
Sme: giđđasáhpánrássi
Cym: clust llygoden, clust llygoden bach, clust-y-llygoden fach, cornwlyddyn clust llygoden corraidd â blodeuddail gwahanedig, cornwlyddyn corraidd â blodeuddail gwahanedig, corwlydd bychan, tryloyw deiliog
En: Five-stamen mouse-ear chickweed, Little mouse-ear, Fivestamen chickweed, Five-stamen chickweed, Scarious Chickweed, Little chickweed, Small chickweed, Little Mouseear
Ca: Cerasti semidecandre
Da: Femhannet hønsetarm
Nl: Zandhoornbloem
Fi: Mäkihärkki
Fr: Céraiste des sables, Céraiste à cinq étamines, Céraiste variable, Céraiste à 5 étamines
De: Sand-Hornkraut, Sandhornkraut, Fünfmänniges Hornkraut
It: Peverina annuale
Se: Giđđasáhpánrássi
No: Smaavære
Sv: Vårarv
Cy: Clust Llygoden, Clust Llygoden Bach, Clust-y-Llygoden Fach, Cornwlyddyn Clust Llygoden Corraidd â Blodeuddail Gwahanedig, Cornwlyddyn Corraidd â Blodeuddail Gwahanedig, Corwlydd Bychan, Tryloyw Deiliog

Synonyms

• Cerastium obtusifolium (Lam.)
• Cerastium semidecandrum var. pygmaeum (Gaudin)
• Cerastium dolosum ((Murb.) Möschl)
• Cerastium pellucidum (Chaub.)
• Cerastium holosteiforme (Schur)
• Cerastium semidecandrum subsp. subherbaceum (Čelak.)
• Cerastium semidecandrum subsp. scariosum (Čelak.)
• Cerastium dentatum (Möschl)
• Cerastium macilentum (Aspegren)
• Centunculus semidecandrus (Scop.)
• Cerastium breviflorum (Gilib.)
• Cerastium semidecandrum var. dentatum ((Muschl.) Kharadze)
• Cerastium peplidifolium (Kotschy ex Boiss.)
• Alsine pellucida ((Chaub.) E.H.L.Krause)
• Cerastium semidecandrum var. pellucidum ((Chaub.) Rouy & Foucaud)
• Cerastium semidecandrum var. macilentum ((Aspegren) Wahlenb.)
• Cerastium semidecandrum var. glaberrimum (W.D.J.Koch)
• Cerastium pallidum (Schur)
• Cerastium fallax (Guss.)
• Cerastium semidecandrum var. linneanum (Chaub. & Bory)
• Cerastium semidecandrum var. strictum (Gaudin)
• Cerastium pentandrum subsp. fallax ((Guss.) Maire & Weiller)
• Cerastium loefflingii (Crantz)
• Stellaria semidecandra (Link)
• Cerastium pumilum subsp. geniculatum ((Braun-Blanq.) Maire)
• Cerastium semidecandrum subsp. fallax ((Guss.) Nyman)
• Cerastium semidecandrum subsp. balearicum ((F.Herm.) Litard.)
• Cerastium semidecandrum subvar. abortivum (Coss. & Germ.)
• Cerastium balearicum (F.Herm.)
• Cerastium pumilum subsp. fallax ((Guss.) Maire)
• Cerastium arenarium (Ten.)
• Cerastium semidecandrum var. abortivum ((Coss. & Germ.) Rouy & Foucaud)
• Cerastium varians subsp. semidecandrum ((L.) Bonnier & Layens)
• Cerastium semidecandrum subsp. pellucidum ((Chaub.) Nyman)
• Cerastium semidecandrum subsp. macilentum ((Aspegren) Möschl)
• Cerastium semidecandrum f. majus (Brenner)
• Cerastium pentandrum (L.)
• Cerastium semidecandrum f. dolsum (Murb.)
• Cerastium semidecandrum subsp. dentatum ((Möschl) Maire & Weiller)
• Myosotis semidecandra (Moench)
• Cerastium semidecandrum var. parviflorum (Rouy & Foucaud)
• Cerastium semidecandrum var. arenarium ((Ten.) Rouy & Foucaud)
• Cerastium rotundatum (Schur)
• Cerastium heterotrichum (Klokov)
• Spergularia semidecandra (Kitt.)
• Cerastium geniculatum (Braun-Blanq.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Norway (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Baltic States (introduced)
• Belarus (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Nebraska (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• North European Russi (introduced)
• Northwest European R (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Oct 11, 2022 by Elena Diaz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 14, 2021 by Gui ferl (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 1, 2022 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 1, 2022 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 25, 2020 by Partsch Annette (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Mar 31, 2020 by Julien Joseph (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2020 by Sophie belet binard (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 9, 2021 by L J (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 27, 2020 by Andrea Richardson (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 1, 2022 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken May 10, 2021 by gregor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 28, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Errol Vela (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 6, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Luc Gorremans (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 14, 2021 by Gui ferl (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 1, 2022 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Mar 22, 2022 by Emanuele Santarelli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 19, 2019 by Kerstin Kerstin (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 9, 2020 by B V (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Dec 5, 2008 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)

Other

Taken Mar 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Apr 15, 2002 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Apr 15, 2002 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken May 15, 2002 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Fruit

Taken Mar 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Mar 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3085434)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:152623-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cerastium semidecandrum L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Bloom months: [‘apr’, ‘may’, ‘jun’]