Picture ©2004, , FBCP

Greater Stitchwort - Stellaria holostea
Family - Caryophyllaceae
Also known as - Dead Man's Bones

A common wildflower in over most the UK in open woods, hedgerows & roadsides, in the spring, with narrow deciduous leaves to pointed bluish green unstalked leaves in alternating pairs up the stem which are weak and brittle. The flowers are 20-30mm across (0.8-1.2in), consisting of five deeply notched white petals with five shorter (about half a petals length) green pointed sepals, on stalks budding from the leaf nodes. Ten stamens 5-10mm (0.2-0.4in) tall with orange anthers. This straggly plant grows to about 50cm (20in) tall in damp & shady positions with the flowers appearing April to July becoming quite abundant in some areas. The stems are square in cross section, but are relatively weak, gaining some support from surrounding plants. "Dead Man's Bones" is the old folk name for this herb which was traditionally used medicinally to cure pains and "stitches". Related to Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea which has much smaller flowers with more conspicuous veins.

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