Saponaria

Saponaria
Saponaria ocymoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Saponaria
L.
Species

30-40, see text

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 sapo ("soap") and -aria ("pertaining to"),[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] This soap is still used to clean delicate antique tapestries.[4]

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.[5]

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

Diversity

There are 30[5][6] to 40[1][7][8] species in the genus.

Species include:[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Saponaria. Flora of North America.
  2. 1 2 RHS A–Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. ISBN 1405332964.
  3. Coombes, A. J. (2012). The A to Z of Plant Names. USA: Timber Press. p. 265. ISBN 9781604691962.
  4. Elliot, Doug. Wild Roots: Forager's Guide to the Edible and Medicinal Roots, Tubers, Corms and Rhizomes of North America. ISBN 978-0892815388.
  5. 1 2 Saponaria. Flora of Pakistan.
  6. Saponaria. Flora of China.
  7. Jürgens, A., et al. (2003). Flower scent composition in Dianthus and Saponaria species (Caryophyllaceae) and its relevance for pollination biology and taxonomy. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 31(4), 345-57.
  8. Saponaria. The Jepson eFlora 2013.
  9. Saponaria. GRIN.
  10. Mutlu, B. (2006). Saponaria bargyliana Gombault (Caryophyllaceae): a new record for Turkey and analysis of its morphological characters with related species. Turk. J. Bot 30, 63-70.
  11. Vural, M., et al. (2006). Saponaria karapinarensis, Senecio salsuginea and Centaurea tuzgoluensis, three new species from central Anatolia, Turkey. Belgian Journal of Botany 139(2), 252-60.
  12. Ataslar, E. (2004). Morphological and anatomical investigations on the Saponaria kotschyi Boiss.(Caryophyllaceae). Turk. J. Bot 28, 193-99.
  13. Çinbilgel, İ., et al. (2007). Morphological and anatomical study on endemic Saponaria pamphylica Boiss. & Heldr.(Carypohyllaceae). J. Appl. Biol. Sci 1, 19-25.
  14. Tribsch, A., et al. (2002). Saponaria pumila (Caryophyllaceae) and the ice age in the European Alps. American Journal of Botany 89(12), 2024-33.
  15. Dönmez, A. A. (2009). Saponaria suffruticosa (Caryophyllaceae): An enigmatic species from south-west Asia on border of Turkey and Iraq. Hacettepe J Biol 37(3) 181-87.
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