Giant Chickweed

Plant Info

Also known as:
Scientific name:	Myosoton aquaticum
Family:	Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	Europe
Habitat:	part shade; moist soil, thickets, along shores
Bloom season:	late spring, summer
Plant height:	6 to 24 inches
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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Detailed Information

Flower:

½-inch white flowers with 5 petals that are deeply divided so they look like 10. The flower center is green, surrounded by several white-tipped stamen that turn dark with age.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are heart-shaped, up to 2½ inches long and 1 inch wide. The lower leaves may have short leaf stems but the upper leaves have little or none, and may clasp the stem. Attachment is opposite. The leaves, stem and flower bracts are all covered in short hairs.

More photos

• a patch of Giant Chickweed
• another photo of leaves and flower
• the hairy flower bract

More white wildflowers. Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN, May-June 2007

Comments

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