Stellaria holostea

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Ordo: Caryophyllales

Familia: Caryophyllaceae
Tribus: Alsineae
Genus: Stellaria
Species: Stellaria holostea
Subspecies: S. h. subsp. hispidula – S. h. subsp. holostea
Name

Stellaria holostea L., 1753
Synonyms

Rabelera holostea (L.) M.T.Sharples & E.Tripp

References

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus I: 422. Reference page.

Links

Hassler, M. 2019. Stellaria holostea. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2019. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Sep 03. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2019. Stellaria holostea in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Sep 03. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Stellaria holostea. Published online. Accessed: Sep 03 2019.
Tropicos.org 2019. Stellaria holostea. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Sep 03.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Stellaria holostea in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 09-Oct-10.

Vernacular names
беларуская: Зоркаўка ланцэтападобная
català: Rèvola, Rèvola vera
čeština: ptačinec velkokvětý
Cymraeg: Serenllys mawr
dansk: Stor Fladstjerne
Deutsch: Große Sternmiere, Echte Sternmiere, Großblütige Sternmiere
English: greater stitchwort, addersmeat
español: estrellada, candiles, estrella, hierba cruz, lengua de pájaro
eesti: Mets-tähthein
suomi: Kevättähtimö
français: Stellaire holostée, Stellaire holostee, Langue d'oiseau
hornjoserbsce: Lěsny hwězdnik
magyar: Olocsáncsillaghúr
lietuvių: Krūmokšninė žliūgė
norsk bokmål: Lundstjerneblom
Nederlands: Grote muur, grootbloemige muur
norsk: Lundstjerneblom
polski: Gwiazdnica wielkokwiatowa
slovenčina: hviezdica veľkokvetá
svenska: Buskstjärnblomma
українська: Зірочник лісовий, Зірочник ланцетовидний, Зірочник ланцетолистий

Rabelera holostea, known as greater stitchwort, greater starwort,[1] and addersmeat,[2] is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It was formerly placed in the genus Stellaria, as Stellaria holostea, but was transferred to the genus Rabelera in 2019 based on phylogenetic analyses.[3][4][5][6] It is the only species in the genus Rabelera. Greater stitchwort is native to Western and Central Europe, including the British Isles.

Greater stichwort can be found in woodlands, edges, and open fields[7] and is sometimes grown in gardens.[8]

Description

Greater stitchwort can grow up to 60 cm (24 in) in height, with roughly 4-angled stems. The long, narrow (lanceolate) leaves are greyish green, hairless, sessile, opposite, and decussate (the successive pairs borne at right angles to each other).[9]: 460 [10]: 90 [11]

The flowers are white, 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) across, with five petals split to about halfway the length of the petal. The sepals are much shorter than the petals.[11][12]

Taxonomy
Etymology

The specific epithet holostea comes from the Greek holosteon, meaning 'entire bone'; a reference to the brittleness of the weak stems of this plant.[13]
Common names

The common name stitchwort is a reference to a herbal remedy in which this plant is used allegedly to cure side stitch, which afflicts many people when they try to run without stretching first.[14] Other common names for Rabelera holostea include: daddy's-shirt-buttons, poor-man's buttonhole, brassy buttons, wedding cakes, star-of-Bethlehem, and snapdragon.[8][7] Many of these names are in reference to the stems, which easily break.[8]
References

Brouillet L, Desmet P, Coursol F, Meades SJ, Favreau M, Anions M, Bélisle P, Gendreau C, Shorthouse D, and contributors (2010+). "Stellaria holostea L." data.canadensys.net. Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN). Retrieved 27 May 2020.
"Stellaria holostea". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
Sharples, Mathew T.; Tripp, Erin A. (14 December 2019). "Phylogenetic Relationships Within and Delimitation of the Cosmopolitan Flowering Plant Genus Stellaria L. (Caryophyllaceae): Core Stars and Fallen Stars". Systematic Botany. 44 (4): 857–876. doi:10.1600/036364419X15710776741440. S2CID 208176757.
"Rabelera holostea (L.) M.T.Sharples & E.A.Tripp". ipni.org. International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
Weakley, Alan S. (2020), Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States, University of North Carolina Herbarium, North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
"Rabelera holostea (L.) M.T.Sharples & E.A.Tripp {ID 7523}". www.floraitaliae.actaplantarum.org. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
"Greater stitchwort". www.wildlifetrusts.org. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
Fowler, Alys (24 May 2014). "Alys Fowler: stitchwort". the Guardian. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
Stace, C. A. (2010). New Flora of the British Isles (Third ed.). Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521707725.
Blamey, M.; Fitter, R.; Fitter, A (2003). Wild flowers of Britain and Ireland: The Complete Guide to the British and Irish Flora. London: A & C Black. ISBN 978-1408179505.
Sterry, Paul (1997). Complete British Wildlife. London: HarperCollins. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-583-33638-3.
Waller, Chris (1981). Nature Guide to the Lake District. London: Usborne Publishing. p. 72. ISBN 0-86020-403-0.
Pliny the Elder. Natural History. Book 27. Chapter 65. [1]
Stellaria holostea - Greater Stitchwort Retrieved 15 May 2017.

Rabelera holostea, known as greater stitchwort, greater starwort,[1] and addersmeat,[2] is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It was formerly placed in the genus Stellaria, as Stellaria holostea, but was transferred to the genus Rabelera in 2019 based on phylogenetic analyses.[3][4][5][6] It is the only species in the genus Rabelera. Greater stitchwort is native to Western and Central Europe, including the British Isles.

Greater stichwort can be found in woodlands, edges, and open fields[7] and is sometimes grown in gardens.[8]

Description

Greater stitchwort can grow up to 60 cm (24 in) in height, with roughly 4-angled stems. The long, narrow (lanceolate) leaves are greyish green, hairless, sessile, opposite, and decussate (the successive pairs borne at right angles to each other).[9]: 460 [10]: 90 [11]

The flowers are white, 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) across, with five petals split to about halfway the length of the petal. The sepals are much shorter than the petals.[11][12]

Taxonomy
Etymology

The specific epithet holostea comes from the Greek holosteon, meaning 'entire bone'; a reference to the brittleness of the weak stems of this plant.[13]
Common names

The common name stitchwort is a reference to a herbal remedy in which this plant is used allegedly to cure side stitch, which afflicts many people when they try to run without stretching first.[14] Other common names for Rabelera holostea include: daddy's-shirt-buttons, poor-man's buttonhole, brassy buttons, wedding cakes, star-of-Bethlehem, and snapdragon.[8][7] Many of these names are in reference to the stems, which easily break.[8]
References

Brouillet L, Desmet P, Coursol F, Meades SJ, Favreau M, Anions M, Bélisle P, Gendreau C, Shorthouse D, and contributors (2010+). "Stellaria holostea L." data.canadensys.net. Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN). Retrieved 27 May 2020.
"Stellaria holostea". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
Sharples, Mathew T.; Tripp, Erin A. (14 December 2019). "Phylogenetic Relationships Within and Delimitation of the Cosmopolitan Flowering Plant Genus Stellaria L. (Caryophyllaceae): Core Stars and Fallen Stars". Systematic Botany. 44 (4): 857–876. doi:10.1600/036364419X15710776741440. S2CID 208176757.
"Rabelera holostea (L.) M.T.Sharples & E.A.Tripp". ipni.org. International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
Weakley, Alan S. (2020), Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States, University of North Carolina Herbarium, North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
"Rabelera holostea (L.) M.T.Sharples & E.A.Tripp {ID 7523}". www.floraitaliae.actaplantarum.org. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
"Greater stitchwort". www.wildlifetrusts.org. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
Fowler, Alys (24 May 2014). "Alys Fowler: stitchwort". the Guardian. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
Stace, C. A. (2010). New Flora of the British Isles (Third ed.). Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521707725.
Blamey, M.; Fitter, R.; Fitter, A (2003). Wild flowers of Britain and Ireland: The Complete Guide to the British and Irish Flora. London: A & C Black. ISBN 978-1408179505.
Sterry, Paul (1997). Complete British Wildlife. London: HarperCollins. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-583-33638-3.
Waller, Chris (1981). Nature Guide to the Lake District. London: Usborne Publishing. p. 72. ISBN 0-86020-403-0.
Pliny the Elder. Natural History. Book 27. Chapter 65. [1]
Stellaria holostea - Greater Stitchwort Retrieved 15 May 2017.