British Wild Flowers: A photographic guide to every common species. Paul Sterry
Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum HEIGHT to 30cm
Hairy perennial, found in gardens and grasslands, and on disturbed ground. Flowering and non-flowering shoots occur. FLOWERS White, 5–7mm across, with 5 deeply notched petals (Apr–Oct). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Grey-green, in opposite pairs. STATUS Widespread and common throughout.
StickyMouse-ear
Sticky Mouse-ear Cerastium glomeratum HEIGHT to 40cm
Annual with sticky, glandular hairs. Found on dry, bare ground. FLOWERS White, 10–15mm across, with 5 deeply notched petals; in compact, clustered heads (Apr–Oct). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Pointed-ovate, in opposite pairs. STATUS Widespread and common throughout.
Alpine Mouse-ear
Alpine Mouse-ear Cerastium alpinum
Tufted, mat-forming perennial whose stems and leaves bear long white hairs. Found on stony ground on mountains. FLOWERS White, 18–25mm across, with 5 notched petals (June–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Ovate, the bracts having membranous margins. STATUS Local and scarce, restricted to mountains.
Burbidge, Brinsley
Field Mouse-ear
Field Mouse-ear Cerastium arvense
Spreading, downy perennial of dry, free-draining ground, mainly on calcareous or gravelly soils. Sometimes forms sizeable patches. FLOWERS White, 12–20mm across, with 5 deeply notched petals (Apr–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Ovate, paired. STATUS Local, mainly in E England.
Sea Mouse-ear
Sea Mouse-ear Cerastium diffusum
Low annual that is sometimes prostrate. Covered in sticky hairs and found on sandy ground, mainly near the sea. FLOWERS White, 3–6mm across, with 4 notched petals (Apr–July). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Ovate, dark green; bracts do not have transparent margins. STATUS Locally common near the coast but scarce inland.
Water Chickweed
Water Chickweed Myosoton aquaticum HEIGHT to 1m
Straggling perennial of damp, grassy ground and river margins. FLOWERS White, 12–20mm across, with 5 deeply divided petals (much longer than sepals) (June–Oct). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Heart-shaped with wavy edges; in opposite pairs, upper leaves unstalked. STATUS Common in England and Wales; scarce elsewhere.
Upright Chickweed
Upright Chickweed Moenchia erecta
Tiny, upright annual of short, dry grassland, typically on gravelly or sandy soils. FLOWERS White with 4 petals, opening only in bright sunshine (Apr–June). Sepals white-edged and longer than petals. FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Waxy grey-green, stiff, narrow. STATUS Local in England and Wales only.
Annual Pearlwort
Annual Pearlwort Sagina apetala HEIGHT to 8cm
Straggling, wiry annual of short, dry grassland and bare ground, usually on sandy soils. No basal rosette. FLOWERS With minute greenish petals and 4 longer greenish sepals that spread in fruit; on long stems (Apr–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, bristle-tipped, with hairy margins. STATUS Widespread and common.
Sea Pearlwort
Sea Pearlwort Sagina maritima
Wiry annual that is similar to Annual Pearlwort but fleshy. Found on bare, dry ground, mainly near the sea. FLOWERS With minute greenish petals and 4 longer purplish sepals that do not spread in fruit (May–Sep). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Fleshy, blunt (no bristle). STATUS Widespread but local.
Heath Pearlwort
Heath Pearlwort Sagina subulata
Mat-forming, downy perennial with a basal rosette. Found on dry, sandy or gravelly soils. FLOWERS With 5 white petals that are equal to, or longer than, sepals; on slender, stickily hairy stalks (May–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, bristle-tipped and downy. STATUS Locally common in the north and west; scarce or absent elsewhere.