Longstalk Starwort-Stellaria longipes

This slender member of the Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae) is easily overlooked in a meadow full of other plants. It is Longstalk Starwort (Stellaria longipes), also called mountain chickweed and meadow starwort. Stellaria means "star" and longipes means "long stalked."

Members of the Pink Family have five petals, so at first glance this flower might be confusing. It really does only have five petals, but each is cleaved nearly to the base so it appears to have ten petals. Although some members of the Pink Family have pink flowers, the name "pink" refers to "pinked petals," or those that are lobed or fringed. In this particular case, the petals of longstalk starwort don't appear particularly "pinked." Leaves are narrow and widely spaced along the stem.

For more information about longstalk starwort, click here.