Consider-the-Lilies Web Gallery
Star Chickweed
If one takes into account actual relatives—or, at least, namesakes—including both the native and naturalized alien varieties, flora bearing the common name "Chickweed" are found throughout the northern temperate zones of both hemispheres.
The Star Chickweed, a native perennial in North America, is the largest of the family found in Virginia.
It puts out its delicate blooms in early March in the Shenandoah Valley.
The botanical prefix, Stellaria, is simple enough: stellaria for star-like. (The suffix corei refers to the thick, leathery leaves.)
(You'll find one of the alien namesakes at Mouse-ear Chickweed.)
But it is the common names for these herbaceous plants from several families that I find of interest: What about the original plants dubbed "Chickweed?"
Like many common names, this original tag has an interesting derivation or should I say derivations?
Nineteenth-century botanist,
Neltje Blanchan,
offered this explanation: "The sole use man has discovered for this often
pestiferous weed with which nature carpets moist soil the world around is to
feed caged song-birds."
Singing chickens?
Maybe, maybe not!
Others offer what is to me a more plausible derivation; It comes from certain early flowering weeds and British chickens....
Supposedly "way back when," British free-range chickens—when there was no other type—were seen gobbling up succulent weeds when they first appeared in early spring. These weeds were thus dubbed "chickweeds."
Perhaps the "Little Red Hen" did enjoy the succulent leaves and flowers as a tasty relief from dry seeds and detritus left over from the previous year.
Maybe, maybe not!
Here is a "chick" eye-level view of the pretty little Star Chickweed.
Any thoughts, pro or con? Why not drop me an anonymous note at the Comments page?
OR
Go back to the Main Directory to consider more lilies of the field.