Chickweed / Maruns / Winterweed
(Stellaria media)
Edibility
Good for the chicken and good for me! It is so good to enjoy this fresh and nutritious herb. Chick – yes, weed – definitely not.
Apart from the visual aspect, one of the identifying features is, that the stem, when pulled apart, leaves a thin core sticking out.
It is a very fragile plant with tiny leaves, but chickweed spreads wide like a ground cover so it is not difficult to pick a decent amount for a salad or pesto. Rich in iron, zinc and several vitamins, but most importantly – very tasty.
Etymology
It got its Latin name due to the star-like little flowers, and “media” because it is a medium-sized plant. Yes, this name´s much more appropriate than anything that ends with -weed! And it helps to identify the plant.
