Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 406 (1753).

Derivation: Greek skleros, hard; anthos, flower; alluding to the hardened fruiting calyx.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Knawels.

Description:
Annual or perennial small densely branched herbs; leaves dilated and connate at the base, sometimes clustered, usually ciliolate.

Inflorescence of more or less dense terminal and axillary cymose clusters; sepals 5, rarely 4, united for about half of their length so as to form a lobed calyx, the tube of which becomes hardened at maturity; petals absent; stamens perigynous, 1, 2, or 5, if 5 then alternating with 5 staminodes; styles 2, slender.

Capsule membranous, indehiscent, enclosed in the calyx tube; seed 1, pyriform.

Distribution:  About 10 species in Australia, Europe and Asia.

Biology: No text

Key to Species:

1. Flowers sessile; lobes broadly lanceolate or ovate; stamens 2 or 5
2. Leaves not pungent; lobes broadly lanceolate; stamens 2	S. diander 1.
2. Leaves pungent; lobes ovate; stamens 5	S. pungens 3.
1. Flowers pedicellate; lobes lanceolate; stamens 2	S. minusculus 2.

Author: Not yet available