Chickweed (Stellaria media)

Edibility:Edible

Eating notes: A good additional to a salad - not bitter. Can get slightly stringy in hot summer weather.

Very common low spreading tangle of stems and leaves.

Height: 10-20cm high, although lying stems may reach 50cm in length

Leaves: 1-2cm oval

Flowers: Small white flowers with 5 deeply forked petals.

Stems: Distinctive single line of hairs along one side of the stem

Warning: Care should be taken not to mistake Chickweed for any of the other low spreading weeds with similar growth habit. Given that Chickweed is likely to be eaten raw and it grows as a low weed it should only be collected where there is no chance of 'dog soiling'.