HOLOSTEUM UMBELLATUM subsp. UMBELLATUM
Family and Genus:- See- CARYOPHYLLACEAE
Common Names:- Umbellate or jagged chickweed.
Homotypic Synonyms:- None
Meaning:- Holosteum (Gr) Whole-bone, A name used by the Greek physician and
botanist Dioscorides for a chickweed-like plant.
Umbellatum (L) With the branches of the inflorescence all rising from
the same point.
General description:- Annual.
Stem:-
1) 5-20(-35) cm. Erect, simple or branched, usually glaucous, towards the base.
glandular hairs more or less confined to middle part of the stem.
Leaves:-
1) All leaves, acute, entire.
a) basal, oblanceolate, narrowed into the petiole.
b) cauline elliptical, sessile.
2) Glandular hairs more or less confined to the margins of the leaves.
Flowers:-
1) In simple umbels on slender pedicels, of varying length.
2) Pedicels, deflexed in the young fruiting stage.
3) Petals, about twice as long as the sepals; white or pale pink.
4) Stamens, usually 3-5.
Fruit:-
1) Capsule, cylindrical, somewhat narrowed above, twice as long as the sepals.
2) Seeds, 0·5-1 mm, reddish-brown.
Key features:-
1) Glandular hairs, present.
2) Seeds, up to 1 mm.
3) Lower part of the stem glabrous.
4) Stamens, usually 3-5.
Habitat:- In a variety of open often sandy or gravelly, seasonally damp habitats.
0-2100 m.
Distribution:- C., E. and S. Europe, extending northwards to S. Sweden. On Crete
mainly confined to the Lefla Ori, Kedros, Psiloritis and Dikti massifs.
Flowering time:- Mar-June
Photos by:- Dr. Armin Jagel.
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
