Seasonal Wild Flowers

Greater Stitchwort

Stellaria holostea

Caryophyllaceae

Poor Man’s Buttonhole

Early March to June

It is found throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Greater Stitchwort

It grows on well drained, slightly shaded soils on the edges

of woods, roads and footpaths. It is particularly common

on hedgebanks and in hedges.

Greater Stitchwort is a native, conspicuous, patch-forming

herb growing up to 60cm,

The white flower are up to 3cm across with 5 deeply cleft,

rounded petals.

There are 10 stamens with yellow anthers and 3 white,

linear stigma.

The stamens appear first.

Leaves are opposite, narrow and pointed, and slightly

greyish.

Fruits are green, round balls.

Greater Stitchwort En masse on a hedge bank

Group

Stamens with anthers

Anthers and developing stigmas

Linear stigmas

Fully developed stigmas, fading anthers

Stigma and ovule

Opposite, lanceolate leaves