Moenchia erecta
Upright white chickweed ( Moenchia erecta )
The White Upright Chickweed ( Moenchia erecta ), also called white chickweed, is a species of the carnation family ( Caryophyllaceae ). Since the botanist could assign this little plant no species clearly, she was placed in a separate genus, together with its few relatives, who was named in honor of the Marburg botany professor Conrad Moench Moenchia. In Germany, this rare species is considered endangered.
Description
The White Upright Chickweed is an annual herbaceous plant that reaches only growth heights of 3 to 12 inches. From the base of sprout one or more slender erect stems, which generally contain two to four pairs of leaves. The sessile linear- lanceolate leaves are 6 to 12 millimeters long.
In each case, one or two flowers on last significantly longer stems arise from the leaf axils. The four green, about five millimeters long sepals are distinct, lanceolate and have a white border. The four petals are white to silvery margin entire and shorter than the calyx. Each flower has four stamens. The flowering period extends from April to June.
The approximately 6 mm long, cylindrical capsule fruit is about as long as the calyx and opens with eight teeth. There are 35 to 55 brown, riefelige seeds in it.
Distribution and ecology
This short-lived, low competitive plant is native to Central Europe, Great Britain, France and Spain. After North America, South Africa and Australia it was introduced by humans. Suitable areas of low nitrogen semi - arid grassland and are in hot temperate latitudes up to altitudes of about 700 meters.
According to the ecological indicator values according to Ellenberg the type is specified as a full light plant for hot, dry evenly maritime climate. The soil is low in nitrogen and displayed slightly acidic.
In Germany, this species is considered endangered in Hesse, in other states it is already extinct or threatened with extinction. Also, in all of Central Europe the species is threatened with extinction. Legal protection of species not enjoy this plant, however. The main cause of the decline of the species is that get smaller spread of neglected grassland by cultural influences, bush encroachment and afforestation.
This species occurs as a single copy or in small groups. The fertilization occurs due to insect pollination. The propagation of the species occurs mainly due to the wind spread the seeds.
The chromosome number is n = 18
Synonyms
The Upright White Minimize has the botanical name Moenchia erecta (L.) P.Gaertn .. To this end, there are the synonyms Sagina erecta L. and Moenchia erecta subsp. erecta.
Sources and further information
The article is mainly based on the following documents:
- Oskar Sebald: Guide to the Natural wild plants in Central Europe, ADAC Verlag, Munich 1989, ISBN 3-87003-352-5