Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains
14. Caryophyllaceae, the Pink Family
3. Stellaria L. -- Stitchwort3. Stellaria longipes Goldie
Stems erect or decumbent, often densely matted, 5-25 cm long, from slender rhizomes. Leaves strongly ascending, rather stiff and shiny, linear or linear-lanceolate, widest near the base, acute at the tip, 1-2.5(4) cm long, 0.8-3(5) mm wide. Inflorescence similar to that of the preceding but rather narrow, the pedicels erect to ascending, 1-3(6) cm long. Flowers 1-several per stem, seldom more; sepals 3-5 mm long, acute or obtuse; petals slightly shorter to slightly longer than the sepals. Capsules stramineous to shiny purplish at maturity, ovoid, surpassing the calyx. Seeds light to dark reddish-brown, oblong to oval, 0.7-1 mm long. Late May--Jul. Wet meadows, moist ditches and thickets; occasional in e and n ND and the Black Hills; (Circumpolar, in N.Amer. from Newf. to AK, s to N.S., NY, MN, SD, AZ and CA).
Previous Species -- Stellaria longifolia Muhl. ex Willd. -- Long-leaved stitchwort
Return to Family -- Caryophyllaceae - The Pink Family
