Stellaria holostea 硬骨繁縷, 硬骨草繁縷, 大繁縷

Common name: Greater Stitchwort
Scientific name: Stellaria holostea 硬骨繁縷, 硬骨草繁縷, 大繁縷
Genus: Stellaria 繁縷屬 
Family: Caryophyllaceae 石竹科, pink or carnation family

Remarks:

Origin: native

Date:  6th April & 1st June

An erect perennial, can reach up to 60 cm. 

Look at the base of the plant to see the leaves there and the stem. Leaves narrow, linear to oblong.

The stem at the base of the plant is clearly 4-angled. Leaves are sessile.

Bracts (the leaves-like structure at the base of the inflorescence) are wholly green. (vs bracts with pale margins in S. graminea 禾葉繁縷, lesser stitchwort and S. palustris 沼生繁縷, marsh stitchwort.)

The stem upper is rough, hairy and less 4-angled in the apperance.  (vs stems are smooth and glabrous in S. graminea 禾葉繁縷, lesser stitchwort and S. palustris 沼生繁縷, marsh stitchwort.)

flower buds

side view of the flower

Petals much longer than the sepals.

Flowers 20-30 mm in diameter, stamens 10, 1 style with 3 stigma. Petals notched to about halfway to base (vs petals divided almost to base in S. graminea 禾葉繁縷, lesser stitchwort and S. palustris 沼生繁縷, marsh stitchwort.)

208 start fruiting (1st June)

215 The sepals at the back of the fruit. (1st June)

211 Fruit is developing. (1st June)