Wood stitchwort (Stellaria nemorum, Sp. Pl.: 421 (1753))

Family: Caryophyllaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 421 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Stellaria

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Europe to N. Iran, Mongolia to NC. China

Description

Wood stitchwort, scientifically known as Stellaria nemorum, is a delicate and charming plant belonging to the Caryophyllaceae family. This species was first documented in 1753 by the esteemed botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work “Species Plantarum,” where it appears on page 421.

Native to a broad geographical expanse, Wood stitchwort naturally thrives across various regions from Europe extending eastward to Northern Iran. It is also found in territories ranging from Mongolia to North-Central China, showcasing its adaptability to different climatic and soil conditions.

This perennial herb is particularly noted for its petite and star-shaped white flowers, which provide a striking contrast against its lush green foliage. These attributes make it a pleasant sight in wooded areas, where it often grows in the humus-rich soil of forests, along stream banks, and in other moist, shaded locations.

Typically flowering from late spring to early summer, Wood stitchwort’s blooms are characterized by five deeply bifurcated petals that can appear to be ten at first glance, thus giving it a unique and somewhat intricate appearance. The leaves are usually ovate to lanceolate, arranged oppositely along its slender stems.

Wood stitchwort plays an important role in its ecosystem, offering a source of nectar and pollen to a variety of pollinators. Its presence also contributes to the biodiversity and ecological health of the forest habitats it occupies.

Whether appreciated for its understated beauty or its ecological significance, Stellaria nemorum remains a fascinating subject for both botanists and nature enthusiasts alike.

Common Names

Deu: hain-sternmiere, hain-sternmiere (i. w. s.), waldsternmiere
Dan: lund-fladstjerne
Nld: bosmuur
Swe: lundarv, lundstjärnblomma
Fra: stellaire des bois
Eng: wood stitchwort, wood chickweed
Sme: rohtohilsku
Cym: serenllys, serenllys y coed, tafod yr edn y goedwig
En: Wood stitchwort, Wood Chickweed
Be: Зоркаўка дуброўная
Bg: Горска звездица
Ca: Estel·lària de bosc
Zh: 腺毛繁缕
Kw: Boos nader
Cs: Ptačinec hajní
Da: Lund-fladstjerne
Nl: Bosmuur
Et: Salu-tähthein
Fi: Lehtotähtimö
Fr: Stellaire des bois, Stellaire des forêts
De: Waldsternmiere, Hain-Sternmiere, Hain-Sternmiere (i. w. S.), Hain-Steinmiere, Wald-Steinmiere
Hu: Erdei csillaghúr
It: Centocchio dei boschi, Centocchio nemorale, Stellaria dei boschi
Se: Rohtohilsku
No: Skogstjerneblom
Fa: گندمک جنگلی
Pl: Gwiazdnica gajowa
Ru: Звездчатка дубравная
Sr: Шумска мишјакиња
Sk: Hviezdica hájna
Es: Gozdna zvezdica
Sv: Lundarv, Lundstjärnblomma
Zh-tw: 腺毛繁縷
Zh-hant: 腺毛繁縷
Uk: Зірочник гайовий
Cy: Serenllys y coed, Serenllys, Tafod yr Edn y Goedwig

Synonyms

• Alsine media var. nemorum ((L.) Kuntze)
• Stellaria nemoralis (Salisb.)
• Stellularia media var. nemorum ((L.) Kuntze)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Italy (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Poland (native)
• Romania (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)

Additional Images

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

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

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

Flower

Taken May 24, 2020 by Petra Doksanska (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 11, 2019 by Brachtlová Anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 24, 2020 by Vogel Bastiaan (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2006 by Reinhard Bachmann (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 28, 2018 by orsatus (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken May 28, 2021 by Ugoline Jacquot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 4, 2022 by Domi Nika (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 30, 2020 by Heizman Hubert (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 8, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 12, 2022 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jun 4, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 27, 2021 by Uhlig Tino (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 10, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Hugues TINGUY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 25, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Mathilde DUVERGER (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 28, 2021 by Jiří Hedrich (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 11, 2022 by Alexander Baransky (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 4, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jun 19, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Marie Portas (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jun 4, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 4, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 8, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken May 21, 2022 by Rico Mende (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 25, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Tina Bye (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 12, 2022 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 13, 2022 by Petr Harant (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/6363434)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:309327-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Stellaria nemorum L.)

Specifications

Growth