Stellaria media, chickweed, is an annual and perennial flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It has been sometimes grown as a vegetable crop and ground cover for both human and poultry consumption.
Chickweed grows in soil which is low in humus, bacterial activity, Calcium and Potassium. It may also indicate high concentrations of Copper, Zinc, Sulfur, Iron and Selenium.
Chickweed has been known to cause saponin poisoning in cattle. However, as the animal must consume several kilos of chickweed in order to reach a toxic level, such deaths are extremely rare.
