Annual Knawel
ExplorePlants
Annual Knawel
Scleranthus annuus
The Annual Knawel is a small, green plant that grows close to the ground. It has tiny leaves and can often be found in fields and gardens, making it a friendly sight for little explorers!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Annual Knawel is a small, mat-forming plant with many slender, branched stems. It has tiny, needle-like green leaves growing in pairs. Its almost invisible, greenish-white flowers lack petals, making them blend into the foliage.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyCaryophyllaceaeGenusScleranthus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Ancient Romans sometimes used this tiny plant for medicinal purposes.
Even though it's small, Annual Knawel can sometimes carpet entire fields!
It's an expert at growing in cracks in pavements or rocky paths.
Its name "Knawel" might come from an old word for 'knot', referring to its tangled stems.
Special abilities
Ability
Speedy Seed Spreader
Annual Knawel can produce many tiny seeds very quickly, helping it rapidly colonize disturbed areas and spread to new places.
Ability
Drought Dodger
Annual Knawel can complete its entire life cycle quickly before summer droughts become too severe, helping it survive dry conditions.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-20 cm
- Spread
- 5-20 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.1-0.2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring, Summer, Fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
depends on
common earthworm
Lumbricus terrestris
Earthworms improve soil health for the plant.
eaten by
black cutworm
Agrotis ipsilon
Its seedlings can be a food source for these caterpillars.
eaten by
European goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
Small birds like finches may consume its tiny seeds.
symbiotic with
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus
Rhizophagus irregularis
Forms beneficial root partnerships to help absorb nutrients.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Agricultural
This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Rapid Growing
Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always check with an adult before touching or picking plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Annual Knawel?
5-20 cm
How wide does Annual Knawel spread?
5-20 cm
How big are the flowers on Annual Knawel?
0.1-0.2 cm
When does Annual Knawel bloom?
Spring, Summer, Fall
Is Annual Knawel edible?
No
Is Annual Knawel toxic?
None
What is Annual Knawel's lifecycle?
Annual
How is Annual Knawel pollinated?
Wind
Snap Map
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