This photo was taken on 2nd January 2025 in the derelict area of St. Andrew’s Quay which is an excellent site for seeing wild plants that have self seeded or which are perennials over the years that the area has been ‘neglected’, when it eventually gets ‘developed’ it will not be nearly as interesting. As is always the case, in mid-winter surface lants are not dead but dormant (the life of a plant is in its roots), indeed in relatively mild weather in January wild plants grow slowly converting sunlight to sugars. Also, ground cover plants have to ‘set-off’ early in the year to avoid getting swamped by larger plants of late spring and summer; they have to flower early to reproduce in time.
Chickweed is one such plant (s.p.b.), defined as of ‘creeping habit’ and with the ability to flower at any time across the year.
‘Chickweed’ is an interesting name and sounds very modern. Certainly chickens like eating the leaves and stems of chickweed and free-range hens can be fed chickweed that has been pulled or cut. Maybe this ability has been known for centuries.
Chickweed’s botanical name is Stellaria media referring to the the flower’s star-like petals and media, middle(?).
Quite a lot of British wild flowers have white flowers but only stitchwort has stellaria in its botanical name.
(to be continued)