Scleranthus annuus

One-year skein ( Scleranthus annuus )

The Annual Hank ( Scleranthus annuus ), also called Einjahrs - ball herb, is a member of the Pink Family ( Caryophyllaceae ). It blooms from May to October.

Appearance

The most one - rarely biennial herbaceous plant reaches a height of about 2 to 10 cm. It is not woody at the base. The plant is dyed grass green or yellowish. The leaves are narrow - linear to subulate formed. The bracts are usually longer than the flowers. These sit in endless and leaf angle constant tangles. The tepals have a length of about 1.5 to 2.5 mm, are pointed, greenish and have a maximum 0.2 mm wide whitish skin edge. They are three to four times as long as the 2-5 stamens (the remaining stunted in part ). The Perigonblattspitzen are for fruit ripening significantly protrude or straddling. The false fruit has a length of 3.5 to 4.5 mm and is spitzkegelig shaped at the base.

Ecology

The Annual Hank is summer or winterannuell or biennially. He is Xeromorph that is, adapted to drought.

Despite secretion of nectar, the flowers are rarely visited by insects, and it is mainly self-pollination. Bloom time is from May to October

This fruit is in contrast to most carnations plants to nuts. The area enclosed by a cartilaginous hardened cup nuts are also the propagation units. The Straddling toothed sepals serve the velcro and wind spread; also intestinal spread, for example, occur by deer and humans spread by farm implements. The seeds are long-lived. Fruit ripening begins in June.

Dissemination

Habitat requirements

The Annual Hank grows in weed corridors, rarely also on trails or dumps. It prefers moderately dry to fresh, more or less nutrient-rich, loamy, poor acidic sandy soil or sandy loam. It is down to about 20 cm rooting acidification pointer.

Popularization

Scleranthus annuus comes from Europe prior to the temperate Asia. It is also found in North Africa. In Austria the Annual ball in collinen is scattered to upper montane sites, based in Switzerland, it is widespread.

Distribution in Germany

The Annual Hank is widespread in Germany and is often found in the silicate areas.

Others

The Annual Hank is rich in form and has recently been divided into a total of three (small) types. In addition to S. annuus s.str. distinction is still polycarpos S. and S. verticillatus.