Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Chickweed

CHICKWEED, or Alsine, L. a genus of plants, comprising five species, of which that most generally known in England is the media, or common chick weed.

It grows in almost every situation, whether damp, or even boggy woods, or the driest gravel walks in gardens. In its wild state, this plant frequently exceeds half a yard in height, and varies so much from the garden chickweed, that if a person were acquainted only with the latter, he would with difficulty recognize it in the woods. On account of its upright flowers, which blow from March to October, it may be considered as a natural barometer: for, if they are closed, it is a certain sign of approaching rain; while, during dry weather, they are regularly open, from nine o'clock in the morning till noon.

This species affords a striking instance of what is called the sleep of plants. Every night the leaves approach in pairs, so as to include, within their upper surfaces, the tender rudiments of the new shoots: and the uppermost pair, but one, at the end of the stalk, is furnished with longer leaf-stalks than the others, so that it can close upon the terminating pair, and protect the end of the branch.

Swine are extremely fond of chickweed, which is also eaten by rows and horses, but is not led by sheep, and is refused by goats. It likewise furnishes a grateful food to small birds, and young chickens: its tender shoots and leaves, when boiled, can be scarcely distinguished from early spinach, and are in every respect as wholesome. They are reputed to be refrigerating and nutritive food for persons of a consumptive habit.