Common name: Knawel, Cushion-bush, Two-flowered Knawel
Scleranthus biflorus (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) Hook.f. APNI* 
Description: Small much-branched perennial herb, 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, obtuse, erect, shorter than the tube.
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Fairly common in grassland, usually at high altitude. The typical compact form with paired flowers occurs in ST; Vic., Tas.
NSW subdivisions: ST
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas.
This species is currently under revision. Several species have been or will be separated from it, including S. brockiei, S. singuliflorus and a new species S. sp. Fitzs Hill.
Text by A. Doust (1990); edited KL Wilson (March, April 2014; Sept 2015)
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990); Cowley and West, Flora Vic 3 (1996)
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.
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