View source for Nertera

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Rubiaceae
|genus=Nertera
|taxo_author=Banks ex Gaertn.
|common_name=pincushion, coral bead, bead plant
|habit=herbaceous
|Max ht box=4
|Max ht metric=cm
|Min wd box=20
|Min wd metric=cm
|Max wd box=40
|Max wd metric=cm
|origin=S America, Australasia
|lifespan=perennial
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Coralito (Nertera granadensis).JPG
|image_width=240
|image_caption=N. granadensis
}}
'''''Nertera''''' is a genus of about 15 species of [[flowering plant]]s 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]] and eastern [[Asia]]. The name derives from the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''nerteros'', meaning low down. Common names include pincushion, coral bead or bead plant. They are prostrate, creeping, mat-forming [[Herbaceous plant|herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]]s growing to {{convert|20|-|40|cm|in|abbr=on}} 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 [[flower]]s are insignificant and probably [[Anemophily|wind-pollinated]]. The [[fruit]] is usually a bright orange [[berry]], but in some species may be a dry [[Capsule (fruit)|capsule]].

{{Inc|
Nertera (Greek, lowly; referring to the habit). Rubiaceae. Creeping herbs, of which one is grown for its handsome profuse berries.

Nerteras are slender perennials, with small opposite Lvs. which are stalked or not, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, glabrous or somewhat pilose; stipules present: fls. axillary or terminal, hermaphrodite, inconspicuous, sessile; corolla 4- or 5-lobed; stamens 4 or 5, inserted in base of tube of the tubular or funnel-shaped corolla, the anthers exserted; ovary 2-celled: drupe 2-seeded (two 1-seeded pyrenes), fleshy.— Species about 8, widespread in the southern hemisphere.
}}

==Cultivation==


===Propagation===


===Pests and diseases===


==Species==
;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 depressa]]''
*''[[Nertera granadensis]]''

==Gallery==

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==References==
<references/>
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
*{{wplink}}

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