Knawel

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