Scleranthus perennis

Perennial knawel
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Scleranthus
Species: S. perennis
Binomial name
Scleranthus perennis
L.

Perennial knawel (Scleranthus perennis L.) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the carnation family. It grows on sandy, dry, acidic soils. It can grow up to 15 cm high and has white flowers of 2–5 mm. The plant used to be economically significant as the major host plant of the Polish cochineal.

Closeup of flowers