Chickweed, mouseear (Cerastium fontanum ssp. vulgare)

A spreading, mat-forming perennial that thrives during the winter months. Mouseear chickweed is a weed of winter small grains, no-till cropping systems, landscapes and turfgrass. Leaves are opposite, dull-green, oval to elliptic in outline, lacking petioles, and are covered with hairs on the upper surface and the veins beneath. Flowers occur in clusters of three at the end of stems. Flowers consist of five white petals that are deeply lobed, giving the appearance of 10 petals. Mouseear chickweed is similar in growth habit and appearance to common chickweed, but has densely pubescent leaves and stems and roots at the nodes.

IPM1007, revised June 2007