FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Cerastium alpinum, Alpine Mouse-ear, Músareyra

Cerastium alpinum; The alpine mouse-ear is common both in lowlands and highlands. Thus, it can be found in all parts of Iceland. It can be found on drier soils, especially gravelly soils. C. alpina is one of many mouse-ear species. Common on Iceland are also C. fontanum: the "common mouse-ear" (which has smaller petals, barely longer than the sepals), C. arcticum: the arctic mouse-ear (very similar to C. alpina but brighter green, found only in highlands) and C. cerastoides the starwort mouse-ear ( trailing stems, found in moist soils along creeks etc.). Less common to rare mouse-ear species are C. glomeratum and C. glabratum.

It is a member of the Pink family (Caryophyllaceae). The Icelandic name of this species is Músareyra.

A brief introduction to Iceland plants
Text & Photographs by Dick Vuijk
- unless stated otherwise
Other Pink family members

Other Pink family members

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Natural History of Iceland Site  in Dutch

Natural History of Iceland Site  Dutch