Scleranthus annuus L.

Annual; stems erect or ascending, 10–25 cm tall, bearing downwardly curved hairs; internodes 2 cm or more long. Lvs paired and in short axillary fascicles, linear-subulate from broad connate scarious ciliate base, acute or minutely acicular, (5)–7–15 × 0.5–1 mm. Peduncles 0. Bracts leaflike, slightly > fls. Fls axillary, solitary or clustered, sessile or shortly pedicellate. Sepals 5, linear with very narrow scarious margins, at fruiting slightly spreading and 1–11/2× the 10-ridged perigynous zone; whole fr. 4–5 mm long. Stamens up to 10, included in calyx.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Aug., May.