E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Myosoton aquaticum (L.) Moench
water chickweed (giantchickweed)
Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© RĂ©al Sarrazin  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #26690)

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Distribution of Myosoton aquaticum
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Species Information

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General:
Perennial herb from overwintering stem-bases; stems decumbent or ascending, often trailing, 0.2-1.0 m long, glabrous below, glandular-hairy above.
Leaves:
Leaves opposite, egg-shaped-long-pointed with a heart-shaped base and wavy margins, 2-8 cm long, lower leaves short-stalked, upper leaves unstalked; stipules lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence in a 2-parted cluster with leaf-like bracts, the flowers so appearing solitary; petals white, to 12 mm long, deeply 2-cleft; sepals egg-shaped, 7-9 mm long, with membranous margins.
Fruits:
Capsules egg-shaped, up to 1 cm long, drooping; seeds brown, 0.4 mm long, with dense, barbed pimples.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Moist to mesic shorelines and meadows in the lowland zone; infrequent on S Vancouver Island, the lower Fraser Valley and SC BC; introduced from Europe.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is not evaluated, unknown or variable.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Alsine aquatica (L.) Britton
Cerastium aquaticum L.
Malachium aquaticum (L.) Fr.
Stellaria aquatica (L.) Scop.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References