Cerastium tomentosum L.
snow-in-summer (snow in summer)
Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #6934)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Cerastium tomentosum
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Species Information

General:
Biennial or more usually perennial herb from short, slender taproot; forming mats or clumps up to 80 cm across; stems usually numerous, decumbent, freely branched, densely white woolly-hairy, 10-35 cm long.
Leaves:
Stem leaves opposite, oblanceolate, grey-hairy to white woolly-hairy, 3-20 mm long and 2-4 mm wide, 1-nerved, unstalked; stipules lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence in an elongated cluster; petals 5, white, longer than the sepals, 5-7 mm long; sepals 5, 2-4 mm long, hairy.
Fruits:
Capsules cylindric, 7-10 mm long, 10-valved; seeds 0.6-0.8 mm long.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Habitat and Range

Disturbed areas in the lowland zone; rare in SW BC, known only from SE Vancouver Island and Vancouver; introduced from Europe.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia