Annual , sometimes biennial plant with one or more ascending, ascending or erect stems 2-20 cm tall, branched to varying degrees, with rows of short curly hairs. The lower internodes are longer than the leaves.
The leaves are opposite, somewhat thickened, 4-17 mm long and up to 1 mm wide, with a sharp apex, narrowly linear to almost subulate, fused at the base with cilia.
Flowers 1-2 mm in diameter, 2-5 mm long, in apical and axillary dychasia , sessile or almost sessile. Bracts equal to flowers in length or slightly longer. A calyx of five (rarely four) green sepals with a whitish edge 1.6–2 × 0.6–1 mm, triangular-ovate, acute. No petals . Five stamens , of which only two are usually functional. There are two columns , their length is 0.6-0.8 mm.
Fruits - nut-shaped boxes (single-seeded, less often two-seeded), surrounded by a hard cup. Seeds 1.2-3.5 × 0.7-1.7 mm, tan, red at the tip, with a smooth or slightly wavy surface.
Widespread in Europe, Southwest Asia, North and East Africa, a species introduced into North America.
Often appears as a weed in the fields. Out of anthropogenic landscapes - on dry rocky slopes.
Scleranthus annuus L. , Sp. Pl. 1: 406 (1753).
Several subspecies stand out, of which the most common are Scleranthus annuus subsp. annuus and Scleranthus annuus subsp. polycarpos (L.) Bonnier & Layens . The latter is distinguished by erect or ascending stems, short internodes, dense inflorescences, a cup 2–2.5 mm long.
Synonyms
- Knavel annuum (L.) Scop. , 1771
- Scleranthus comosus Dumort. , 1827
- Scleranthus divaricatus Dumort., 1827
- Scleranthus glaucovirens Halácsy , 1900
- Scleranthus tauricus C. Presl ex Knaf , 1872
- Scleranthus velebiticus Degen & L. Rossi , 1937
- Scleranthus venustus strobl , 1874
