Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Caryophyllales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Caryophyllaceae
Genus
Scleranthus L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Scleranthus biflorus (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. II. (Fl. Nov.-Zel.) Part I, 74 (1852)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Mniarum biflorum J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Char. Gen. Pl. 2, t. 1 (1775)
  • = Ditoca muscosa Banks ex Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2, 196, t. 126, fig. 1 (1791) nom. illeg.
Vernacular Name(s):
Canberra grass; Kohukohu; Nāereere; Twin-flower knawel
 Description

Mat or cushion-forming perennial; stems decumbent, to 5 cm tall, glabrous; internodes 1–3 mm long. Lvs paired, ± spreading, linear, scabrid on margins and keel, shortly acicular, (2)–5–8 × 0.5 mm. Peduncles glabrous, short at flowering, elongating at fruiting to 2–8 mm. Bracts in 2 pairs, deltoid, scarious, keeled, up to 1 mm long. Fls paired. Sepals 4, narrow-triangular, not scarious, at fruiting connivent and c. 1/2 length of the smooth perigynous zone; whole fr. 1.5–2 mm long. Stamen 1, included in calyx.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Nov.–Jan.–(Jun.); Fruiting: (Aug.)–Nov.–Apr.–(Jun.)

 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Forster, J.R.; Forster, G. 1775: Characteres Generum Plantarum:quas in itinere ad insulas maris Australis, collegerunt, descripserunt, delinearunt, annis 1772-1775. Edition 1. London.
Gaertner, J. 1790–1792: De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum. Vol. 2. Stuttgart.
Hooker, J.D. 1852–1853 ("1853"): The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of H.M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror in the Years 1839–1843, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross. II. Flora Novae-Zelandiae. Part I. Flowering plants. Lovell Reeve, London.