Cerastium semidecandrum
Little Mouse-Ear Chickweed
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
- Genus
- Cerastium
- Life cycle
- annual
- Height
- 0.2 m
- Fertility
- self fertile
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects, Self
Uses
Edible uses
Young plant - cooked[1][3]. Best used before it flowers[4].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, from Scandanava south and west to N. Africa and W. Asia.
- Habitat
- Common in dry open habitats, especially on calcareous or sandy soils[2].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer.
Cultivation
See the plants native habitat for ideas on its cultivation needs.
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202