Holosteum umbellatum L.
Stems 1-6-(10), erect, glabrous or glandular, 5-15-(20) cm tall. Basal lvs narrow-oblanceolate to narrow-spathulate, subacute at apex, cuneate at base, 10-25 × 2-5 mm, glabrous or sparsely ciliate. Stem lvs distant, opposite, ovate, obovate or spathulate, glabrous or ciliate, 5-15 × 2-5 mm. Bracts crowded, ovate, green or purplish with wide scarious margins, 1-1.5 × 0.5 mm. Pedicels glabrous, recurved at flowering, erect at fruiting, (5)-10-20 mm long. Sepals narrow-ovate, obtuse; margins scarious, 3-5 × 1-2 mm. Petals white, slightly > sepals. Stamens usually 3, slightly < sepals. Styles 3, c. 1.5 mm long. Capsule broadly cylindric, or ellipsoid, 4-5-(6) mm long, dehiscing by 6 recurved teeth. Seeds pale brown, about 1 mm long.
S.: N. Canterbury (Hawarden and Medbury), C. Otago.
Europe, W. Asia 1957
Arable land, depleted pasture, roadsides.
H. umbellatum has superficial similarities to the mouse-ear chickweeds (Cerastium), but the few-flowered loose umbels are distinctive. Its 3 styles, 6-toothed capsule and irregularly toothed petals also distinguish it from the Cerastium spp. in N.Z.
In Europe the sp. is variable with respect to indumentum, sometimes being densely glandular. In N.Z., however, it varies from glabrous to at most sparsely ciliate on lvs and to sparsely glandular on peduncles.
