Consider-the-Lilies Web Gallery
Mouse-ear Chickweed
A perennial groundcover turf weed, this immigrant from Eurasia puts out its delicate blooms in early May in Virginia.
It looks something like another member of the family, Common Chickweed, which is an annual.
As shown, the Common variety is a paler green and is less hairy.
Both types of this wildflower are often found growing with other wild groundcovers, such as Gill-over-the-ground and Speedwell.
Besides having a more appealing common name, the Mouse-ear variety, is further distinguished by the many fine hairs found on its stems, as well as the shape of its seed capsules.
Its scientific name, Cerastium fontanum, is a description of these attributes: The prefix comes from the Greek for horn—keras; a reference to the shape and nodding habit of the seed pods. The suffix is botanical Greek for growing in running water.
But for me, the charming common name for this plant captures the unique beauty of the delicate flowers and seed pods.
Go to the Main Directory to consider more lilies of the field.