Chickweed, or stellaria media, is a cooler weather wild edible. Its pointed oval-shaped leaves grow in pairs opposite each other, fairly far apart on the stem. The tiny seeds are also edible, but are tedious to gather. As a herb, Chickweed is probably best known as an old wives herbal remedy for weight loss. A very common garden weed, the flowers open in the morning and remain open for about 12 hours. Chickweed is also edible and known for its pleasant taste. Common Chickweed is a cool weather plant native to Europe that has widely naturalized in the United States and throughout the world. Identification of Chickweed. It grows prolifically and spreads, though can be pulled easily from the roots. Each capsule contains many small seeds that are globoid, somewhat flattened, and minutely warty. This is a pretty unusual trait for a plant, which makes it a great way to differentiate common chickweed from mouse-ear chickweed, its edible cousin, and scarlet pimpernel, the poisonous lookalike. See Steve Brill's tips for preparing chickweed: I've been harvesting Indian (aka Miners') lettuce and carefully removing the intergrowing chickweed. By giving chickweed a “haircut” in … Suitable pH: acid and neutral soils. Leaves can be cooked. Read our Commitment to Diversity | Read our Privacy Statement. Common chickweed (Stellaria media) is “common” throughout significant portions of the world. Up to 3 inch long and 1.25 inches broad elliptical, unstalked leaves, pointed at each end. Be sure to remove any yellow or brown leaves. Chickweed does not have milky sap. Edible parts:Chickweed leaves and flowers can be eaten raw. It grows densely and close to the ground, and likely won’t get much taller than a couple of inches. I had no idea of the historical background on this plant. The leaves contain saponins so some caution is advised. Star chickweed is endangered in the state of New Jersey. It’s also called chickenwort because it’s a free source of tasty early spring chicken food, and winterweed because it grows year-round in milder climates. I was always pulling Chickweed up and throwing it away because an old farmer once told me it was a weed that kept getting in her flower garden and it will overrun everything. The plant produces both fertile and infertile shoots. All of the above ground parts of chickweed are edible, so don't worry if there are some flowers mixed in there. I had no idea. NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to The flavor is often compared with corn silk. Chickweed actually has several traditional uses both internally and externally: Chickweed is a common yard weed--it’s considered a pest by some so be sure not to gather it in areas that have been sprayed with pesticide. It has a crisp, mild taste similar to fresh lettuce and corn silk. The leaves fold up of a night time, enfolding and protecting the tender buds of new shoots. The leaf bases are sessile or nearly sessile, while their tips are either acute or blunt; lower leaves are more likely to have short petioles and blunt tips than upper leaves. The plant is edible and is also a food source for poultry. Stellaria media is edible and nutritious, and is used as a leaf vegetable, often raw in salads. cheers, In reply to I found a study on the by Justus Jessen. Conservation. Chickweed is used for stomachand bowel problems, lung diseases, wounds and skinulcers, joint pain, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. It is an annual preferring cooler, rich, moist conditions and doesn’t survive dry summers. Chickweed (Stellaria media) is an annual plant found throughout Europe and is scientifically known as Stellaria Media. It’s excellent eaten raw; put it in a salad or prepare as you would spinach: steamed or sauteed. To my knowledge, there hasn’t been any official research conducted. If you reference table 7 in this document, you will find it. Chickweed flowers are 1/8 to 1/4 inch in diameter and consist of five double-lobed white petals supported by a whorl of five green sepals. As seen printed in Mystic Pop Magazine. The leaves fold up at night time, enfolding and protecting the tender buds of new shoots. Edible uses: The tender leaves and stems can be eaten raw or cooked. Chickweed is an easily found plant, often growing in yards from late Fall to Spring in the South and year round in the North. It can be added to soups or stews but in the last five minutes to prevent overcooking. Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked or added to salads. Chickweed grows in many areas in a wide variety of habitats and soil. Each sepal is lanceolate to ovate and pubescent. In Japan, it is traditionally eaten in the spring with rice and other wild plants. The first is known as common Chickweed. It's amazing how much stuff is out there right in front of us waiting to be discovered. Be sure you know what you are looking for; chickweed can be mistaken for non-edible plants such as Persian speedwell, Veronica persica, and scarlet pimpernel … Wow, 20 feet tall?! It is one of the most common weeds, growing all over the world in gardens, cultivated land and waste places. The ancient Greeks even wrote about using chickweed, and it was also commonly consumed in ancient Ireland. I'll be using some of this in a recipe for herb-filled Armenian flatbread. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. What a wonderful plant. Its flowers and leaves are, indeed, edible, though in large quantities the saponoids it contains can cause stomach upset. For those who worry about the safety of chickweed, it is completely safe to consume in moderation.While it is not the most popular leafy addition to a salad, this plant has a ple… Chickweed is a low growing weed with a sprawling nature, sort of like how clover grows in your back yard. Classifying Other Chickweeds Identify star chickweed. In Asia, for example, chickweed is a valuable and important edible. Weak stems with two fine hairy lines. References Several sources say it’s high in vitamins C, B, and A, as well as a host of minerals and other healthful constituents. It is one of the most common weeds found in lawns but it also grows well in fields or in deciduous forests. Nearly all parts of the common chickweed plant are edible, including the stems, leaves, flowers and seed pods. It’s best eaten fresh so plan to use it within a day or so of cutting. You can make chickweed pesto with two packed cups of freshly chopped chickweed, two cloves of garlic, three Tablespoons of pine nuts, a quarter teaspoon of salt, half a cup of olive oil and half a cup of Parmesan cheese. The central stem is light green to pale purplish green and glabrous to moderately pubescent. Chickweed Nutrition Facts It is in leaf all year, in flower all year, and the seeds ripen all year. And of course it’s a great base for salad. Notice the shape of the leaves — as well as the petioles. Compare to the star chickweed on the right, with a much more hairy stem. Snowdrops and crocus flowers herald the spring. Chickweed – stellaria media is a delightful plant and my favourite edible weed, growing lushly in the colder months. It’s pleasant and mild. It should also be somewhat acidic. Uses for Chickweed. How beneficial is chickweed nutritionally? 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