Flower ID: IMG_1679.JPG-08-07-2017 Flower name (scientific): Stellaria graminea Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) stell-AR-ee-uh gram-IN-ee-a Flower name (common): Lesser Stitchwort Family name (common): Pink (Carnation) Family name (scientific): Caryophyllaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Latin stella for star, referring to the star-like shape of the flower. Specific epithet: Grass-like, grassy. Common name origin: From the supposed belief that the plant was a cure for side stitch. Lesser is used to denote the flower size 5–12 mm diameter, relative to that of Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea (newly named Rabelera holostea), which has a flower size of 20 to 30 mm diameter. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.5 inches (5 to 13 mm) Petal count: 5 Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple Size:`Leaves up to 4 cm long and up to about 6 mm wide. Leaf typically widest near base. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, linear-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced, naturalized. Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): May to August Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Fields, meadows, disturbed areas, roadsides, waste areas, sun or semi-shade. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Stellaria longifolia (Long-leaved Stitchwort) is similar to Stellaria graminea. The former species has sepals obscurely 3-veined and approximately the same length as the petals, leaves 1 to 3 mm wide, and pedicels 3 to 30 mm long, whereas S. graminea has sepals distinctly 3-veined and shorter or approximately the same length as the petals, leaves 1 to 6 mm wide, and pedicels 10 to 30 mm long. Stellaria longipes (Long-stalk Starwort) is also similar, but this is a very geographically restricted species in Wisconsin, with only a few observations reported. It has sepals that are 3-veined with a prominent midrib and they are shorter than the petals by a factor of 1/2 to 2/3. Ethnobotany: Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dane, Door, Douglas, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV) In Canada: (BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym:Stellaria graminea var. graminea (The other infraspecifics are Stellaria graminea var. chinensis (Regel) Maximowicz, Stellaria graminea var. pilosula Maximowicz, Stellaria graminea var. viridescens Maximowicz. None of these three varieties have been recorded from North America.)