Stellaria pungens

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Common Name:

Prickly Star-wort

Family:

Caryophyllaceae

Distribution (from Flora of Victoria):

Wannon, Grampians, Midlands, Victorian Volcanic Plain, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Gippsland Highlands, Wilsons Promontory, Snowfields, East Gippsland (CDEHJKMNPRSTUVWXZ) also SA, NSW
Map - Australasian Virtual Herbarium

Distribution and ecological preference at Wilsons Promontory (if known):

Rocky hills 1
moist forest and woodlands 2

Flower Description:

White 3

Habit:

Perennial herb with rhizomes 3

Distinguishing characteristics (within family/genus):


This species differs from S. flaccida in having sharply pointed leaves that are narrower (3 mm wide not 5 mm wide) and covered in curly white hairs when young 2

Images:

Image: Alison Kellow

Links to more images:

Atlas of Living Australia MELU

Links to description of this species:

NSW Flora VicFlora

Conservation status:

Not threatened

References:

1 Ellis, M. (unpublished). “A Field Guide to South Gippsland Flora”.
2 Meagher, D. and Kohout, M. (2001). “A field guide to Wilsons Promontory”. Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Vic.
3 Walsh, N. G. and Entwisle, T. J. “Flora of Victoria”, volumes 2 (1994), 3 (1996) and 4 (1999). Inkata Press, Port Melbourne, Victoria