Cerastium alpinum L.

Cerastium species are annual or perennial herbs, somewhat mat-like, stem erect or prostrate, simple or branched from the base, tomentose or pubescent with white hairs, sometimes glandular, rarely subglabrous, rootstock slender, rhizomatous. Leaves simple, opposite, ovate-lanceolate to elliptic-obovate, base connate, margin entire, apex acute to obtuse, glabrous or pubescent, petiole sessile to subsessile. Inflorescence usually in terminal, open or congested dichotomous cymes, 5-merous or rarely 4-merous. Flowers bisexual rarely unisexual, actinomorphic, pedicel usually erect, sometimes hooked near the apex in fruit, bracts foliaceous, margins scarious or herbaceous, sepals 5, free, margin scarious, membranous, petals 5, free, white, margin entire, apex bifid or emarginate, rarely absent. Stamens usually 10, rarely 4-5 or 8, filaments distinct, anthers 2-locular, dorsifixed, disk hypogynous, nectarines present. Ovary superior, unilocular, ovules many, styles 3-5, filiform. Fruit capsule, obovoid-cylindrical, exceeding the sepals, opening by 10 or twice as many short teeth as styles, carpophores absent. Seeds many, ovoid to reniform, rough, compressed, papillae tuberculate.

Cerastium species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary; rarely unisexual and pistillate. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects, or cleistogamy i.e., by self or allogamy i.e., by cross pollination. Flowering/Fruiting: May-June.

Seeds may be dispersed by autochory i.e., self dispersal, anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds or animals; anthrochory i.e., dispersal by humans.

Perennial herbs, about 5-20 cm tall, somewhat mat-like, spreading, stem erect or prostrate, simple or branched from the base, pubescent with white hairs or rarely subglabrous, rootstock slender, rhizomatous. Leaves simple, opposite, ovate-lanceolate to elliptic, about 10-17 x 5-7 mm across, base clasping, margin entire, apex acute to obtuse, midrib impressed above and slightly prominent beneath, lateral veins inconspicuous, petiole sessile to subsessile. Inflorescence usually in terminal, open 2-4 flowered cymes. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, pedicel usually erect, angular at the base, curved at apex, about 1-4 cm long, sometimes hooked near the apex in fruit, bracts foliaceous, margins scarious or herbaceous, sepals 5, free, base truncate, margin scarious, membranous, apex acute, about 7-10 mm long, petals 5, free, white, margin entire, apex bifid or emarginated, about twice as long as sepals. Stamens usually 10, filaments distinct, anthers 2-locular, dorsifixed, disk hypogynous, nectarines present. Ovary superior, unilocular, ovules many, styles 5, filiform. Fruit capsule, obovoid-cylindric, about 10-14 mm long, slightly curved at apex, exceeding the sepals, opening by 10 or twice as many short teeth as styles, carpophores absent. Seeds many, ovoid to reniform, about 1-1.4 mm across, rough, compressed, dark brown, papillae tuberculate.

Cerastium species are susceptible to various insect pests, viruses, root rots and moulds.

Alpine Himalayas.

Not evaluated (IUCN).