Marsh Stitchwort Stellaria palustris
Marsh Stitchwort (Stellaria palustris) is a slender, greyish-leaved plant of wet meadows, fen edges, and the margins of grazing marsh ditches, producing delicate white flowers from late spring onwards. It has declined across Britain due to drainage and the loss of traditionally managed wet grassland. In Suffolk, it is associated with river-valley fens and grazing marsh systems, particularly in the Waveney Valley and coastal levels. It is a good indicator of long-undrained, base-influenced wet grassland, and its presence often signals high conservation value. Maintaining appropriate water tables and avoiding rank vegetation through light grazing supports its persistence. Image: © Natural England/Peter Wakely, Flickr.
Find out more: iNaturalist, Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora
Suffolk’s Priority Fern and Flowering Plant Species
Key
Listed as a conservation priority in Suffolk’s Biodiversity Action Plan.
Closely associated with Suffolk’s landscape and natural identity.
Identified as a key priority for recovery under Suffolk’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Has a Species of the Month article attached.
