Regel’s chickweed (Cerastium regelii, Skr. Vidensk.-Selsk. Christiana, Math.-Naturvidensk. Kl. 8: 10 (1909 publ. 1910))

Family: Caryophyllaceae

Author: Ostenf.

Bibliography: Skr. Vidensk.-Selsk. Christiana, Math.-Naturvidensk. Kl. 8: 10 (1909 publ. 1910)

Year: 1910

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Cerastium

Vegetable: False

Observations: Subarctic

Description

Regel’s chickweed, scientifically known as Cerastium regelii, is a plant species belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. This species was first described and documented in 1909 by the botanist C. Ostenfeld, with the findings officially published in the Skrifter Videnskabernes Selskab i Christiania, Matematisk-Naturvidenskabelig Klasse in 1910.

This resilient plant is primarily found in subarctic regions, where it has adapted to thrive in the extreme climatic conditions characteristic of these areas. Regel’s chickweed is noted for its hardy nature, allowing it to endure the harsh environments of its native habitats. The plant typically showcases small, delicate white flowers that contrast beautifully against its green foliage, a common trait amongst members of the Caryophyllaceae family.

The adaptability of Cerastium regelii to subarctic climates highlights its ecological importance, providing a source of food and shelter within its ecosystem. It plays a crucial role in the botanical biodiversity of such regions by contributing to the stability and health of its local flora. As such, Regel’s chickweed is not only of interest to botanists but also to ecologists studying subarctic plant ecosystems.

Research on plants like Cerastium regelii helps illuminate the intricacies of subarctic flora and the various survival strategies employed by these plants. The discoveries and observations surrounding Regel’s chickweed continue to contribute valuable insights into the study of botany and the environmental dynamics of cold-region ecosystems.

Common Names

Eng: regel’s chickweed, regel’s mouse-ear chickweed
Fra: céraiste de regel
Swe: polararv
Nno: polararve
Nob: polararve
En: Regel’s chickweed, Regel’s mouse-ear chickweed
Fr: Céraiste de Regel
Nb: Polararve
Nn: Polararve
Sv: Polararv

Synonyms

• Cerastium beeringianum subsp. jenisejense ((Hultén) Vorosch.)
• Cerastium gorodkovianum (Schischk.)
• Cerastium jenisejense (Hultén)
• Cerastium alpinum var. serpyllifolium (Regel)
• Cerastium mutabile var. jenisejense ((Hultén) Kozhevn.)
• Cerastium regelii var. hirsutum (Hultén)
• Cerastium regelii subsp. caespitosum ((Malmgren) Tolm.)
• Cerastium alpinum var. caespitosum (Malmgren)
• Cerastium mutabile var. caespitosum ((Malmgren) Kozhevn.)

Distribution

• Alaska (native)
• Amur (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Greenland (native)
• Kamchatka (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Magadan (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest Territorie (native)
• Nunavut (native)
• Québec (native)
• Svalbard (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Aug 19, 2022 by Pyter Bootsma (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3085480)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:52402-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cerastium regelii Ostenf.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Forb/herb

Growth