The scientific name for the Pink Family, Caryophyllaceae, is derived from a Greek word
that means "carnation", the showiest member of the family. It's a moderately large family of about 2000 species and 80 genera, found mostly throughout the north temperate zone, especially in northern Mediterranean countries, although it's also well represented in our Northwest. Typically, the plants in the pink family have narrow, opposed leaves that originate from swollen nodes along the stem. Ornamental plants and cut flowers, especially species of Dianthus (carnations, sweet william, etc.), have considerable economic importance.
The flowers of the Pink family have 5 sepals, free from one another or united into a calyx, petals are usually 5, each often with a slender portion at base and fringed or toothed at the ends. Stamens are 5 or 10 and pistils are 1 to 5. All these parts are attached at the base of the ovary. The flowers are blooming singly or in a branched or forked cluster. Leaves are opposite, simple, widely lance-shaped to very narrow, thread-like. The fruit is usually a capsule.

Cerastium fontanum - Common Chickweed
Loosely tufted herb with long hairs. New, leafed shoots growing from bases.
Flowers small, white, with petals only slightly longer than the sepals.
Leaves egg-shaped, hairy, with blunt tips.