Caryophyllaceae

Scleranthus L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 406 (1753)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Europe to Siberia and Iran, Medit. to Arabian Peninsula and NE. Tropical Africa, New Guinea, SE. Australia, New Zealand.

Descriptions

Ghazanfar, S. A. & Edmondson, J. R (Eds). (2016) Flora of Iraq, Volume 5 Part 1: Elatinaceae to Sphenocleaceae.

Morphology General Habit
Small annuals and perennial herbs
Morphology Stem
Stems procumbent to erect, pubescent on two opposite sides
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, linear, sessile, expanded and connate at base into scarious sheath; stipules absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in lax or dense, terminal or axillary cymes Perigynous zone inconspicuous in flower but increasing in size and thickness with development of fruit, and about equalling the sepals in length at maturity
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts not markedly different from the leaves
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 5, equal or slightly unequal-Petals absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Fertile stamens 10 or fewer
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style 2, free with filiform styles at apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit indehiscent, surrounded by the much thickened, hard wall of the expanded perigynous zone, the flower falling as a whole at maturity.
Distribution
Ten species distributed in temperate Eurasia, Mediterranean region, Ethiopia and Australasia; one species in Iraq.
[FIQ]

Sources

  • Flora of Iraq

    • Ghazanfar, S. A., Edmondson, J. R. (Eds). (2013-2019). Flora of Iraq, Volumes 5.1, 5.2 and 6.0. Kew Publishing
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0