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SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHICK-
WEED (STELLARIA MEDIA).
BY JOHN FRENCH.
THIS very common weed is described by Hooker as "one of
the most variable of plants." Withering, writing a
hundred years ago, says, "Those who have only seen it in its
usual state as garden Chickweed would hardly know it again in
woods, where it sometimes exceeds half a yard in height.''
Unfortunately, even in woods, it is not always to be found in
this very flourishing state, and I have looked in vain for several
seasons in succession for these exaggerated forms. I once
committed myself to the statement that I had seen the plant put
on a climbing habit, and so indeed I had, but when I wanted to
produce specimens in verification I had to wait for a cool and
moist summer, which sometimes only appears once in the course
of several years. This year has been an exceptionally favourable
one, and there has, therefore, been good opportunity for observa-
tion. The greatest height I have ever measured the plant is
nearly five feet, but that was some years ago, and it was a
hedge-side specimen. This year the highest example I have
obtained is two feet nine inches. This had gone to the top of a
small yew tree, and if the tree had been somewhat higher, the
weed would certainly have gone to its top.
If we turn to the other extreme, we have a stunted, compact
plant bordering sometimes on succulency and capable of
resisting much drought. In all cases it does best with a rather
low temperature. Its range according to Hooker is "all Arctic
and N. Temperate regions."
The normal form of this plant is undoubtedly the starved
garden specimen. Under that form it will resist great extremes
of temperature, and it will also propagate its species readily. It
will be my endeavour to show that in the abnormal form of the
plant, that is, the climbing form, there is something more than
stimulated growth ; there is, as I believe, a tendency towards an
altogether different habit, or in other words the potentialities of
a new species.
There are two familiar weeds with which we can compare
the plant, and they are the more suitable in that they are all
stimulated in a like season, and are all similarly capable of