Lecture by Alan Chadwick in New Market, Virginia, 1979
Lecture 15, Herb Study: Stellaria Media, Chickweed, Part 1
An Introduction to Alan Chadwick's Lectures and a Glossary of Terms
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Stitchwort, Chickweed, and Hen's Inheritance are the common names of the stellaria media. It is an annual and gives much more than it takes. Impossible to pull out the roots. A creeping plant, bright green, grows December through March, and a fast grower. Bears little white flowers like stars. Likes rich, well cultivated soil. High mineral content, especially potassium, which is ideal for growing in orchards when the fruit sets. Works well as a lay crop with raspberries also. Self-seeds prolifically. Grows well in the cold, wet portion of the year when most other plants are dormant. Has considerable medicinal properties: for cramps, palsy, and as a salve. Makes excellent compost, and as a living mulch. Chickens and other poultry love it as a food. The seed is an attractive feed for wild birds. Bees are attractive to the flowers when there is little other forage available. (14:42)