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Volume IV (1988) - Flora of New Zealand Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons
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Scleranthus L.

SCLERANTHUS L.

Annual, biennial or perennial herbs. Lvs opposite, exstipulate, linear to subulate, connate by narrowly scarious bases. Fls solitary or paired or clustered, on long axillary peduncles or not pedunculate; bracts small, scarious or leaflike; epicalyx 0. Sepals 4-5, inserted on rim of flask-shaped perigynous zone. Petals 0. Stamens 1, 2 or 5-10, inserted on rim of perigynous zone. Styles 2. Fr. a 1-seeded indehiscent nutlet, with perigynous zone and calyx adhering to fr. and falling with it when ripe. Seeds ovoid or ellipsoid, smooth, not winged.

Key

1
Stems bearing very short to long hairs; plant trailing to decumbent to erect, not cushion-forming
2
Stems glabrous; plant forming flat or rounded cushions or lax mats
3
2
Sepals c. 1/2 length of perigynous zone; individual fls paired and subtended by 4 bracts on elongated peduncle
2. *fasciculatus
Sepals 1-11/2× perigynous zone; individual fls solitary or clustered; peduncle 0
1. *annuus
3
Fls solitary on peduncle; bracts 2
5. uniflorus
Fls paired on peduncle; bracts 4
4
4
Sepals 4; fruiting peduncles 2-8 mm long; lf margins finely scabrid
3. biflorus
Sepals 5; fruiting peduncles 8-20 mm long; lf margins usually glabrous
4. brockiei

12 spp., Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia. Native spp. 3, naturalised 2.

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