Starwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Starwort |
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| Greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea) is one type of Stellaria plant. | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Stellaria L. |
Stellaria is a group of about 190 different kinds of flowering plants. You might know them as starwort, stitchwort, or chickweed. These plants grow all over the world! They belong to the plant family called Caryophyllaceae.
What are Stellaria Plants?
Stellaria plants are usually small and grow close to the ground. They have simple leaves that grow in pairs, opposite each other on the stem.
Their flowers are small and often white. Each flower usually has 5 green parts called sepals that protect the bud. It also has 5 white petals. These petals are often deeply split, making them look like 10 petals! Sometimes, the flowers don't have any petals at all. They also have 10 or fewer stamens, which are the parts that make pollen.
Why are They Useful?
Some Stellaria plants are quite useful! For example, Stellaria media, also known as common chickweed, grows in many places. People often eat its leaves, especially in salads. It's a healthy green vegetable!
Many birds, especially finches and other birds that eat seeds, love to munch on chickweed. It's a favorite snack for them!
Chickweeds are also important food for the young forms (called larvae) of some Lepidoptera species. Lepidoptera are insects like butterflies and moths. For example, the caterpillars of moths like the angle shades and heart and dart eat Stellaria plants. Some special caterpillars, called Coleophora case-bearers, also feed on these plants. For instance, C. coenosipennella eats only Stellaria species.
There are other plants that look like chickweed but are not in the Stellaria group. One example is the Cerastium genus. These plants are also in the same plant family (Caryophyllaceae), but they don't have the same uses as Stellaria.
Different Kinds of Stellaria
There are about 190 different kinds of Stellaria plants around the world. Here are a few examples:
- Stellaria alsine – This one is called bog stitchwort.
- Stellaria aquatica – Known as water chickweed.
- Stellaria flaccida – Also called forest starwort.
- Stellaria graminea – This is the lesser stitchwort.
- Stellaria holostea – You might know this as greater stitchwort.
- Stellaria humifusa – This plant is called saltmarsh starwort.
- Stellaria longipes – Known as long-stalk starwort.
- Stellaria media – This is the very common chickweed.
- Stellaria nemorum – Called wood stitchwort.
- Stellaria palustris – This is the marsh stitchwort.
- Stellaria pubera – Known as star chickweed.
- Stellaria pungens – This one is called prickly starwort.
See also
In Spanish: Stellaria para niños
