Chickweed is a delicate little plant that is not too conspicuous. It is not alone in the plant world. If other wild herbs are growing in your neighborhood, you have to keep a watchful eye when collecting them. After all, the lettuce should be healthy and not poisonous.

The leaves of the slightly poisonous ragweed look confusingly similar to chickweed, but fortunately it does not bloom white

Preferred areas

Chickweed can be found everywhere: in the wild, in the vegetable patch or even on the lawn. While it is usually allowed to thrive undisturbed in nature, it is fought on private property. What a pity. With its ingredients, the herb surpasses many a head of lettuce. Chickweed salad tastes mild and delicious. So grab it next time, but first you should get to know it well. There is a risk of confusion.

The typical features

  • approx. 40 cm high growth
  • Plant spreads like a carpet
  • Stem is soft, round and thin
  • a so-called hairline is visible on it
  • Leaves are small, up to 3 cm long
  • they are oval and pointed in shape
  • Flowers are single and white
  • only a few millimeters in size
  • Flowering period: May to October

Other species of chickweed

Chickweed can easily be confused with other chickweeds. For example with the star chickweed. This is just as delicate and just as white-flowering as the popular Chickweed. If you pick them by mistake, you don't have to worry about poisoning. However, it is not tasty like its relative.

Similar wild herbs

There are other wild herbs that are very similar to chickweed. They do not grow in all locations where chickweed thrives. But in one or the other region or place, a direct neighborhood can definitely occur. First and foremost would be the water gut and
to call the field pain.

The water gut is an edible wild plant. Confusion with her poses no danger for the uninformed collector, even if he eats them in large quantities.

The situation is different with the Ackergauchheil. Inside it contains toxic saponins. It is therefore classified as slightly poisonous. As a rule, the consumption of this wild plant is not recommended at all. Only here and there does one hear a voice that considers small amounts to be harmless.

Safe differentiator

You can easily distinguish the chickweed from the chickweed when it is in bloom. While the chickweed blooms white, as is well known, the chickweed adorns itself with orange-colored flowers. Otherwise, another identifying feature can help us, with which the chickweed can also be distinguished from the other doppelgangers: the hairline.

This so-called hairline is formed by many hairs. They show up close together, but only on one side of the stem. Lined up in this way, they form a line that runs the full length of the stem.

tips

Holding a stalk up to the light will make it much easier to spot the fine hairline.

Category:

Herbs