chickweeds

genus Stellaria

Member of pink family (family Caryophyllaceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

Except for extremely rare examples that I don't expect to encounter, there are no other wild species of this genus in the bay area.

Petals are generally entirely divided. If the petals are lobed ≤ 50% of their length, see mouse-ear chickweeds (genus Cerastium).

common chickweed
Stellaria media

common chickweed
Stellaria media

leaves ± evenly spaced
internode hairs in a line
petals generally present, > 70% sepal length
sepals 3–4.5 mm
common

lesser chickweed
Stellaria apetala

leaves ± evenly spaced
internode hairs in a line
no petals
sepals 2–3 mm
very rare

shining chickweed
Stellaria nitens

leaves crowded near base
no internode hairs or scattered
petals < 50% sepal length
rare

Rare species outside of my hiking areas are perennial herbs or have sepals > 5 mm.

1 observed taxon / 2 unobserved taxons / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 35 (28 are research grade)

Locations:

Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve: 6
Almaden Quicksilver CP: 3
Coyote Lake / Harvey Bear Ranch CP: 3
Calero CP: 2
Russian Ridge OSP: 2
Santa Teresa CP: 2
Sweeney Ridge National Recreation Area: 2
Waterdog Lake & Open Space: 2
Alpine Rd.
Alum Rock Park, San Jose
Bear Creek Redwoods OSP
Coyote Creek Trail
Coyote Valley OSP
Henry Coe SP
Joseph D. Grant CP
Nisene Marks SP
Rancho Cañada del Oro OSP
San Pedro Valley CP
Skyline Ridge OSP
Stevens Creek CP
Windy Hill OSP

Months:

Jan.: 1
Feb.: 8
Mar.: 16
Apr.: 7
May: 2
Jun.: 0
Jul.: 0
Aug.: 0
Sep.: 1

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora