Knawel, German Knotgrass, German Knawel, Annual Knawel

Scleranthus annuus L.

Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family)

▲ seedlings in fall of year

▲▼ early spring, young plants

▲ stem details

▲▼  mid-spring, pre-flowering plants

▲ numerous plants, mid-spring

▲ mid-spring plant, showing deep taproot

▲▼ flowering plants, mid-late spring

Knawel, German Knawel: 

·         cool-season annual, winter annual with opposite, linear, shiny leaves in the Caryophyllaceae (Pink) family

·         very low-growing with many branches from central stem—appears moss-like

·         has stout, long taproot (hard to pull)

·         flowers greenish, tiny, in axils of leaves

·         found in moist, shaded, fertile, open turf