{{Short description|Species of flowering plant in the carnation family}} {{Speciesbox |name = Star chickweed |image = Stellaria pubera WV.jpg |status = G5 |status_system = TNC |status_ref = <ref name=natureserve>{{Cite NatureServe |title=''Stellaria pubera'' |id=2.133978 |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref> |genus = Stellaria |species = pubera |authority = Michx. }}
'''''Stellaria pubera''''', commonly called the '''star chickweed''',<ref name=":0">{{PLANTS|id=STPU|taxon=Stellaria pubera|access-date=1 December 2015}}</ref> is a spring-flowering plant in the carnation family Caryophyllaceae, native to the eastern United States.<ref name=bonap>{{BONAP|ref|genus=Stellaria|species=pubera|accessdate=16 January 2017}}</ref>
==Habitat and range== ''Stellaria pubera'' is widespread and common.<ref name=natureserve/> Its natural habitat is bottomland forests and mesic forests,<ref name=Weakley>{{cite web |url=http://www.herbarium.unc.edu/flora.htm |title= Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States}}</ref> where it is often found on rocky slopes.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Newcomb's Wildflower Guide|last=Newcomb|first=Lawrence|publisher=Little, Brown|year=1977|isbn=0316604429|pages=274–275}}</ref> It is found chiefly from Pennsylvania south to Georgia and west to Indiana and Alabama, with scattered populations in New York, New England, Illinois, Nebraska, Mississippi and Louisiana.<ref name=bonap />
==Description== An early spring bloomer, star chickweed may be seen in flower as early as late March.
It grows {{Convert|6|inch|cm}} to {{Convert|12|inch|cm}} high. The leaves are ovate, growing opposite one another and usually attached without stalks to the weak and sometimes reclining stem. Close examination of the flower reveals that what appears to be ten petals are actually five, each deeply cleft. The blossom as a result looks star-like, with its white, pointed petal segments surrounding an off-white center. Stamens are tipped with dark anthers. The stem has rows of small soft hairs that switch sides at each node.<ref name=fna>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=131299 Flora of North America Flora of North America]</ref>
It is similar to ''Stellaria corei'', with which it can easily be confused.<ref name=fna/>
==Etymology== The star-shaped flowers of star chickweed inspired the common and Latin name for this flower. The genus name, ''Stellaria'', comes from the Latin {{Lang|la|stella}}, meaning "star". The species name, ''pubera'' ("hairy"), comes from the lines of hairs that line the stem.
== Conservation == Star chickweed is endangered in the state of New Jersey.<ref name=jan2010plantlist>{{cite web|title=List of Endangered Plant Species and Plant Species of Concern|url=http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/natural/heritage/jan2010plantlist.pdf|publisher=New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection|access-date=11 April 2012}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q7607225}}
pubera Category:Flora of the Northeastern United States Category:Flora of the Southeastern United States Category:Flora of the North-Central United States