COMMON CHICKWEED, Stellaria media (L.) Cyrillo. 1, plant in flower; 2, flower; 3, seed pod; 4, seed. Winter annual or annual, reproducing by seed and creeping stems, rooting at the nodes. Root system fibrous, shallow. Stem is much branched, creeping or ascending, resulting in low spreading plant 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) high. Leaves small, opposite, simple, broadly ovate, pointed at the tips, smooth; petioles have a line of hairs on one side. Flowers small, white, with 5 deeply notched petals. Seed pod cylindrical, breaking into 5 segments at maturity, containing many seeds. Seed small, dull reddish-brown, somewhat heart-shaped but nearly round, roughened by curved rows of minute tubercules. Found in lawns, gardens, alfalfa, strawberry beds, nurseries.