Crop Protection Online > Pests - Weed biology<br> <sub>Agro-region: Denmark</sub> - Cerastium fontanum ssp.

Crop Protection Online

2.12 2024

Weed biology
_{Agro-region: Denmark}

Cerastium fontanum ssp.

Can be mistaken for

Stellaria media, which has smooth true leaves.

Characteristics

Cotyledons
Oval with entire leaf margins. Stalked. Smooth surface. Length approx. 3 mm.

True leaves
Oblong to oval with entire leaf margins. Stalked. The surface has long hairs. Length approx. 4-7 mm. The first true leaves on shoots from rhizomes resemble the true leaves of young seedlings.

Mature plant
Mouse-ear is a low-growing plant with 10-30 cm long, trailing to ascending stems. The plant is hairy all over. The length of the petals is approx. 4-7 mm. Seed production: Up to approx. 1,200 seeds per plant.

Seed
Lopsidedly kidney-shaped in outline with a trilateral cross section. The surface is granulated in irregular, curving rows. Thousand grain weight approx. 0.1 g.

Biology

Propagation and dispersal
Through seeds and to a less extent through pieces of rhizomes.

Habit
The following types exist: Summer annual, winter annual, biennial and perennial.

Importance

The species is frequently found in both annual and perennial crops throughout Denmark, but it is particularly common in meadows. In cereal crops and other tall crops Common Mouse-ear usually has no influence on yield. In meadows with Rough Meadow-grass and Smooth Meadow-grass Common Mouse-ear is a problem because it is difficult to separate the seeds.

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Taxonomy

Caryophyllaceae.

Names in different languages

Danish :	Hønsetarm, alm.
German :	Gemeines Hornkraut
English :	Common Mouse-ear
Latin :	Cerastium fontanum ssp.
Norwegian :	Vanlig arve
Swedish :	Hönsarv

Seedling

Early stage

Flower

Mature plant

Seeds

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Weed biology Agro-region: Denmark