Chickweed
Chickweed is nutrient and medicinal component rich, and grows just about everywhere, and in large quantities. It tastes like a mild rocket leaf raw, and is so freely available that it’s a surprise that we don’t use it more.
Category: Caryophyllaceae
Carnation or Pink family
Size: 86 genera, 2200 species
Notable genera: Campion (Silene), carnation (Dianthus), chickweed (Stellaria), and soapwort (Saponaria).
Key features:
– Herbaceous.
– Leaves are opposite and simple.
– Leaf veins are pinnate.
– Leaf edges are smooth.
– Stems often have swollen nodes.
– 5 petals.
– 5 sepals, fused.
– Petals are sometimes deeply cleft.
– Flowers are terminal and single or in cymes.