Common Checkweed

مشط، حشيشة القزاز، قزازا

• COMMON NAME:common checkweed

• ARABIC:مشط، حشيشة القزاز، قزازا

• BOTANICAL NAME:Stellaria media (L.) Vill.

• SYNONYMS:Alsine media L., Stellularia media (L.) Kuntze.

• FAMILY:CARYOPHYLLACEAE

• KIND:Native

• EMIRATE:Abu-Dhabi

• GROWTH FORMS:Herbs

• HABITATS:Sandy

• TYPES:Annual

• REMARKS:the uses Not Known in the UAE. But in other countries crushed leaves are rubbed on joints to ease rheumatic pains, and an essence of fresh plants in used for treatment of psoriasis, wounds and ulcers.

DESCRIPTION:

Annual, stems weak, prostrate or spreading, up to 40 cm, branching at leaf nodes, with longitudinal line(s) of long white hairs. Leaves light green, oval with pointed tip, 0.2-0.5*2-4 cm, without stalk. Flowers in loose sprays on thread-like stalks up to 2 cm. Sepals c. 0.5 cm. Petals white 0.2-0.3 cm deeply dissected. Seeds minute and winged. Flowering from February to April.

REFERENCES:

M.V.D jongbloed, G.R. Fuelner, B. Boer, A.R. Western. the comprehensive guide to the wild flowers of the United Arab Emirates. Environmental research and wildlife Development agency, Abu Dhabi, 2003. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:159330-1/images