Common name: Prickly Starwort
Stellaria pungens Brongn. APNI* 
Description: Prostrate or ascending perennial, stems angular and variously hairy or glabrous, often mat-forming.
Leaves usually recurved, narrow-lanceolate, 5–10 mm long, c. 2 mm wide at base, apex pungent; margins ciliate; sessile.
Flowers terminal or in the upper axils; pedicels 5–30 mm long. Sepals 5–9 mm long, margins scarious. Petals deeply bifid, ± as long as sepals. Stamens 10.
Capsule ovoid, shorter than calyx.
Flowering: August–December
Distribution and occurrence: Common in shady places.
NSW subdivisions: NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas. S.A.
A distinctive species because of its pungent-pointed leaves.
Text by A. Doust (1990); KL Wilson (Nov 2012)
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990); CH Miller and JG West (2012)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
|
