About Stellaria pungens Brongn.
Stellaria pungens Brongn., commonly known as prickly starwort, is a mat-forming perennial forb with a sprawling or prostrate growth habit. Its stems are angular, and may be smooth or have occasional hairs. Leaves are arranged oppositely along the stems; they are bright green, 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long, about 2 mm (0.079 in) wide at the base, sessile, and narrowly egg-shaped. Leaves are somewhat stiff, slightly curved upward, have hairy edges, and end in a sharp point. Its flowers are star-shaped, with five deeply divided petals that create the appearance of ten petals; each petal grows up to 9 mm (0.35 in) long, and flowers bear ten prominent dark anthers. Flowers are borne singly at the ends of stems or in upper leaf axils, on a pedicel 5–30 mm (0.20–1.18 in) long. Sepals are roughly the same length as the petals, pointed, with dry, thin, flexible edges. The fruit is a dry, egg-shaped capsule that grows up to 8 mm (0.31 in) long. This species flowers from October to December. Prickly starwort is a moderately common species that grows in steep, rocky or shaded sites within woodland, and occurs in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.
