Nertera is a genus of about 15 species of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae, native to the Southern Hemisphere, in South America and Australasia, with one species extending into the Northern Hemisphere in Central America, eastern Asia, and Hawaii.[1] The name derives from the Greek word nerteros, meaning low down. Common names include pincushion, coral bead or bead plant. They are prostrate, creeping, mat-forming herbaceous perennial plants growing to 20–40 cm (7.9–15.7 in) across or more but no more than a few centimetres high. The leaves are usually quite small, and when crushed may in some species release a foul smell (methanethiol) like the related woody genus Coprosma. The flowers are insignificant and probably wind-pollinated. The fruit is usually a bright orange berry, but in some species may be a dry capsule.
Selected species
Nertera balfouriana - from New Zealand, forming small but dense patches of vegetation on wet boggy ground at altitudes between about 600 to 1000 m. It fruits in February, small bright red berries which can cover the whole plant.
Nertera ciliata
Nertera cunninghamii - a common plant at low altitudes in New Zealand, on streamsides or wet roadsides. When in fruit, the plant is covered by bright orange berries produced singly.
Nertera granadensis, also known as coral bead plant, pin-cushion plant,[citation needed] coral moss, or English baby tears, is a plant with orange berries...
Nertera is a genus of about 15 species of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae, native to the Southern Hemisphere, in South America and Australasia...
South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans. For example, the plant species Nertera granadensis was first collected in Tristan da Cunha, but has since been...
African Rothmannia globosa is seen as a specimen tree in horticulture. Nertera granadensis is a well-known house plant cultivated for its conspicuous...
diet. Along with animal prey they will take the berries of Empetrum and Nertera as well as the seeds of the dock Rumex. Unlike the Tristan thrush they...
which is endemic to New Caledonia. The genus is related to Coprosma and Nertera. Cantley, J. T., N. G. Swenson, A. Markey, and S. C. Keeley. (2014). Biogeographic...
name Scientific name Status Tree bedstraw Coprosma repens * Beadplant Nertera granadensis * Field madder Sherardia arvensis Caucasian crosswort Phuopsis...
such as Sporobolus arundinacea, as well as Carex. N. a. fraseri feeds on Nertera. N.a. dunnei feeds on Phylica. All subspecies of N. acunhae use flies as...
wild specimens grow in association with Uncinia banksii, U. uncinata, Nertera dichondrifolia, Clematis paniculata, Parsonsia heterophylla, Monoclea forsteril...
Tristan da Cunha occur as far away as New Zealand. For example, the species Nertera depressa was first collected in Tristan da Cunha, but has since been recorded...
with areas of rare restiad bog The understorey has indigenous sedges, Nertera scapanioides, Microtis unifolia, and ferns (matua-rarauhe and kiokio),...
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