The image is of a knawel plant with very narrow, linear leaves and green-to-whitish flowers clustered in the leaf axils.

Knawel – Scleranthus annuus

Scleranthus annuus L.

Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)

MI Status

Non-native

Life cycle

Prostrate, mat-forming summer or winter annual.

Leaves

Opposite, very narrow and linear, grayish green leaves with sharp points resemble pine needles or grass leaves. Leaves are joined at the nodes by a translucent membrane.

Stems

Grayish green, prostrate and spreading stems with numerous branches can form dense mats.

Flowers and fruit

Spiny, green, or rarely whitish flowers are formed in clusters in the leaf axils. Flowers are generally not distinguishable. Egg-shaped, capsule-like fruit contains one seed.

Reproduction

Seeds.

Similar weeds

Birdseye pearlwort
(Sagina procumbens L.)
Differs by having a perennial nature with spreading stolons; bright green foliage; more distinguishable, small white flowers; and fruit that are persistent capsules with many seeds.

The image is of a knawel plant with very narrow, linear leaves and green-to-whitish flowers clustered in the leaf axils.
Knawel plant
Knawel flowers that are spiney, green, and are formed in clusters in the leaf axils.
Knawel flowers
The image is of small knawel plants with very narrow linear leaves.
Small knawel plants

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