Stellaria decumbens Edgew. var. pulvinata Edgew. & Hook. f.

Stellaria species are annual or perennial herbs, usually caespitose. Stem erect, decumbent or ascending, simple or diffusely branched, slightly quadrangular or terete, glabrous or pubescent, not glandular, rooting at nodes, rootstock slender, long, stout and sometimes rhizomatous in perennials. Leaves simple, opposite, linear lanceolate to obovate-spathulate, margin entire, apex acute to obtuse, 1 veined, succulent or not, petiole short or usually sessile, stipules absent. Inflorescence usually dichasial cymes or rarely solitary, terminal or supra-axillary. Flowers bisexual, hypogynous or weaky perigynous, pedicel erect, glabrous or pubescent, sometimes reflexed in fruit, bracts paired rarely 1 or absent, foliaceous, margins scarious, sepals 4-5, lanceolate-ovate, herbaceous, green sometimes with purplish tinge, margins scarious, apex acute to obtuse, petals 4-5, oblanceolate to obovate, white, creamish, limb bi-fid from the base up to middle sometimes, margins entire, apex emarginated or entire, sometimes absent. Stamens 5-10 or less, inserted from carpophore, filaments distinct, staminodes absent, nectarines present at filament bases. Ovary superior, unilocular rarely trilocular, ovules many, style 3 rarely 2-5, glabrous, stigma 3 rarely 2-5, minutely papillae. Fruit capsule, obovoid-globose, dehiscing with 3-6 valves or splitting into 6-8 equal teeth, or opening by twice the number of styles present. Seeds 1 to many, reniform or globose, compressed laterally, tuberculate or smooth, yellowish brown to dark brown, marginal wings absent, embryo annular.

Stellaria species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects, or cleistogamy i.e., by self or allogamy i.e., by cross pollination. Flowering/Fruiting: June-October.

Seeds may be dispersed by autochory i.e., self dispersal, anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds or animals, anthropochory i.e., dispersal by humans.

Perennial herbs, about 3-7 cm tall, shining, densely caespitose forming globose tufts. Stem erect or decumbent, much branched, densely or lax, slightly quadrangular or terete, glabrous, rooting at nodes, rootstock slender, long, stout. Leaves simple, opposite, linear lanceolate to linear-subulate, about 2-4 x 1.2-2 mm across, base rounded, margin entire or ciliate, apex deeply acute, incurved, 1 veined, impressed above and slightly prominent beneath, succulent or not, petiole short or usually sessile, stipules absent. Inflorescence usually dichasial dense cymes of 1-3 flowers or solitary, terminal or supra-axillary. Flowers bisexual, hypogynous or weaky perigynous, pedicel erect, glabrous or pubescent, sometimes reflexed in fruit, up to 4 mm long, bracts paired, foliaceous, margins scarious, sepals 4-5, lanceolate-oblong, triveined, herbaceous, green sometimes with purplish tinge, base truncate, margins scarious, apex acute to acuminate, persistent, about 3 mm long, petals 4-5, oblanceolate to obovate, white, about half as long as sepals, creamish, limb bi-fid from the base, margins entire, apex emarginated. Stamens 8-10 or less, inserted from carpophore, filaments distinct, staminodes absent, nectarines present at filament bases. Ovary superior, unilocular rarely trilocular, ovules many, style 3, glabrous, stigma 3, minutely papillae. Fruit capsule, obovoid-globose, shorter than sepals, dehiscing with 3-6 valves or splitting into 6-8 equal teeth, or opening by twice the number of styles present. Seeds 2-8, reniform or globose, compressed laterally, smooth, dotted, dark brown, marginal wings absent, embryo annular.

Stellaria species are susceptible to various insect pests, virus, and fungi, affecting leaves, fruits and roots.

Stony and gravelly places of alpine Himalayas, altitude 4200-5500 m.

Not evaluated (IUCN).