Saponaria

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Saponaria
Saponaria ocymoides0.jpg
Saponaria ocymoides
Scientific classification
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Genus:
Saponaria

Species

30-40, see text

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Saponaria is a genus of flowering plants in the pink family, Caryophyllaceae. They are native to Europe and Asia, and are commonly known as soapworts.[1]

They are herbaceous perennials and annuals, some with woody bases. The flowers are abundant, five-petalled and usually in shades of pink[2] or white.[1]

The most familiar species might be common soapwort (S. officinalis), which is native to Eurasia but is known in much of the world as an introduced species, often a weed, and sometimes a cultivated ornamental plant.[1] The genus name Saponaria derives from the Latin saponis ("soap") and -aria ("pertaining to sap"),[1] and at least one species, S. officinalis, has been used to make soap.[3] It contains saponins, and a liquid soap could be produced by soaking the leaves in water.[1]

The genus is closely related to Lychnis and Silene, being distinguished from these by having only two (not three or five) styles in the flower.[2] It is also related to Gypsophila, but its calyx is cylindrical rather than bell-shaped.[4]

Saponaria species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the Lychnis, and Coleophora saponariella, which is exclusive to the genus.

Diversity

There are 30[4][5] to 40[1][6][7] species in the genus.

Species include:[8]

References

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External links