Rabelera
{{Short description|Species of plant in the carnation family Caryophyllaceae}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Rabelera holostea
| image = Stellaria holostea Grote muur.jpg
| image_caption = Distinctive deeply notched petals
| genus = Rabelera
| parent_authority = M.T.Sharples & E.A.Tripp
| species = holostea
| authority = (L.) M.T.Sharples & E.A.Tripp
|synonyms_ref=
|synonyms = {{hidden begin|title = List}}
- Alsine holostea (L.) Britton
- Stellaria holostea {{small|L.}}
- Alsine scabra Stokes
- Cerastium holosteum Crantz
- Stellaria ciliata Bubani
- Stellaria connata Dulac
- Stellaria glauca Salisb.
- Stellaria graminifolia J.G.Gmel. ex Fenzl
- Stellaria holostea var. angustifolia Rouy & Foucaud
- Stellaria holostea var. apetala (Rostr.) Graebn.
- Stellaria holostea f. apetala Rostr.
- Stellaria holostea subsp. hispidula A.P.Khokhr.
- Stellaria holostea var. micropetala Svanlund
- Stellaria holostea var. minor Delastre
{{hidden end}}
}}
Rabelera holostea, known as greater stitchwort, greater starwort,{{r|vascan}} and addersmeat,{{r|usda}} is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It was formerly placed in the genus Stellaria, as Stellaria holostea, but was transferred to the genus Rabelera in 2019 based on phylogenetic analyses.{{r|sharples2019}}{{r|ipni}}{{r|weakley2020}}{{r|acta}} It is the only species in the genus Rabelera. Greater stitchwort is native to Western and Central Europe, including the British Isles.
Greater stichwort can be found in woodlands, edges, and open fields{{r|twt}} and is sometimes grown in gardens.{{r|fowler2014}}
Description
Greater stitchwort can grow up to {{cvt|60|cm}} in height, with roughly 4-angled stems. The long, narrow (lanceolate) leaves are greyish green, hairless, sessile, opposite, and decussate (the successive pairs borne at right angles to each other).{{r|stace2010}}{{rp|460}}{{r|blamey2003}}{{rp|90}}{{r|sterry1997}}
The flowers are white, {{cvt|2–3|cm}} across, with five petals split to about halfway the length of the petal. The sepals are much shorter than the petals.{{r|sterry1997}}{{r|waller1981}}
{{Gallery
|Stellaria along the RAVeL L47a in Sankt Vith, Belgium (DSCF5711).jpg|Flowers
|Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea) (4514555134).jpg|Leaves
|Panemeria tenebrata - Small yellow underwing - Совка ясколковая (27206255688).jpg|With a small yellow underwing, Panemeria tenebrata
}}
Taxonomy
=Etymology=
The specific epithet holostea comes from the Greek holosteon, meaning 'entire bone'; a reference to the brittleness of the weak stems of this plant.[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/22870993 Pliny the Elder. Natural History. Book 27. Chapter 65]{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
=Common names=
The common name stitchwort is a reference to a herbal remedy in which this plant is used allegedly to cure side stitch, which afflicts many people when they try to run without stretching first.{{r|firstnature}} Other common names for Rabelera holostea include: daddy's-shirt-buttons, poor-man's buttonhole, brassy buttons, wedding cakes, star-of-Bethlehem, and snapdragon.{{r|fowler2014}}{{r|twt}} Many of these names are in reference to the stems, which easily break.{{r|fowler2014}}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{cite book|title=Complete British Wildlife|last=Sterry|first=Paul|year=1997|publisher=HarperCollins|location=London|isbn=978-0-583-33638-3|page=240}}
{{PLANTS|id=STHO2|taxon=Stellaria holostea|accessdate=1 December 2015}}
{{cite book|title=Nature Guide to the Lake District|last=Waller|first=Chris|year=1981|publisher=Usborne Publishing|location=London|isbn=0-86020-403-0|page=72}}
}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q93997618|from2=Q94303275|from3=Q157452}}