Common name: Knawel, Cushion-bush, Two-flowered Knawel
Scleranthus biflorus (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) Hook.f. APNI* 
Description: Small much-branched perennial herb, either lax and spreading with ascending tips or forming a dense compact mat.
Leaves linear to subulate, 4–8 mm long, apex acute, not keeled.
Flowers paired, sessile on glabrous peduncle 3–20 mm long; bracts 4, acute, much shorter than the flowers. Calyx lobes 4 or 5, obtuse, erect, shorter than the tube.
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Fairly common in grassland, increasingly prevalent at higher altitudes; variable in habit. The lax spreading form occurs in NC CC SC NT CT ST NWS; Vic., Tas.; the compact form occurs in SC CT ST; Vic., Tas. This species is currently under revision and it appears certain that it will be divided into a number of taxa.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas. Qld
Text by A. Doust
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
|
