Splitting the numbers by a space and storing in single variable

16.726--5.670--25.129**16.312--5.718--22.847**14.366--5.258--25.545**16.920--3.457--25.425**19.419--6.712--25.198**18.536--7.602--25.240**19.152--5.518--24.957**15.501--7.808--24.644**16.883--6.024--27.528**

I have to split the numbers. Remove those ** and -- between numbers and store in single variable( $points ). I have to do this in perl. i have provided the code till removing of ** between the numbers.

output of $points  : 16.726 5.670 25.129 16.312 5.718 22.847 14.366 5.258 25.545 16.920 3.457 25.425 19.419 6.712 25.198 18.536 7.602 25.240 19.152 5.518 24.957 15.501 7.808 24.644 16.883 6.024 27.528

Thanks in advance.

$points = "16.726--5.670--25.129**16.312--5.718--22.847**14.366--5.258--25.545**16.920--3.457--25.425**19.419--6.712--25.198**18.536--7.602--25.240**19.152--5.518--24.957**15.501--7.808--24.644**16.883--6.024--27.528**";
@pointss = split(/\*\*/,$points);
print "@pointss\n";