grips the exposed alpine rocky slopes

Size
Height: 2-5 cm, Spread: up to 30 cm
Lifespan
Perennial
Diet
Photosynthetic ground cover. Obtains nutrients from thin well-drained soils. Not applicable as autotroph.
Habitat
Alpine subalpine and coastal areas. Grows on rocky slopes gravelly soils and exposed sites. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun.
Range
Native to New Zealand and Australia. Found throughout North Island South Island and Stewart Island from coastal to alpine zones.
Endemism
Endemic
Main Threats
No significant threats. May be outcompeted by exotic grasses in some lowland areas.
Population
Found throughout New Zealand from coastal to alpine zones. Also found in Australia. Not threatened.
Conservation Status
data_deficient
Human Risk
harmless
Handling Note
native ground cover, safe to handle
Conservation Note
Endemic herb; data insufficient for full threat classification.
Assessment
NZTCS Vascular Plants (2023)
Te Ao Māori
Scleranthus uniflorus has no recognised Māori name. Grows in alpine and coastal areas. Zones of significance for Māori. Ability to grow in difficult places would have been noted. Plant of edges. Simply part of the landscape.
Scleranthus uniflorus is low and tight. Almost moss-like. Fills gaps where nothing else wants to. Knawel is a small unassuming plant. Grows in most difficult places. Forms dense mats of tiny narrow leaves. Hugs the ground. Leaves are small narrow pointed bright green. Crowded on stems. Plant forms tight mat. Flowers are small greenish inconspicuous. Clustered at tips of stems. Scleranthus uniflorus grows on rocky slopes. In gravelly soils. On exposed sites. Tolerates poor soil. Tolerates drought. Tolerates cold. Grows where other plants cannot. Name uniflorus means one-flowered. Referring to flower clusters. Plant has small single flowers. Species is native to New Zealand and Australia. Found from coastal to alpine zones. Knawel is a gap-filler. Grows in cracks between rocks. Grows on gravel. Grows where soil is thin. Often only plant in sight. In gardens Scleranthus uniflorus is valued as ground cover for difficult areas. Grows in rock gardens. Between pavers. On dry banks. Plant is not threatened. Common. Widespread. Knawel is a reminder. Toughest plants are smallest. Grow where nothing else can. Fill the gaps. It carries on.