Saponaria | |
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Saponaria ocymoides | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
Genus: |
Saponaria L. (1753) |
Species | |
30-40, see text | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Saponaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Asia and Europe, and are commonly known as soapworts. [2] They are herbaceous perennials and annuals, some with woody bases. The flowers are abundant, five-petalled and usually in shades of pink [3] or white. [2] The genus is closely related to the genus Silene, being distinguished from these by having only two (not three or five) styles in the flower. [3] It is also related to Gypsophila, but its calyx is cylindrical rather than bell-shaped. [4]
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. [2] The genus name Saponaria derives from the Latin sapo ("soap") and -aria ("pertaining to"), [2] and at least one species, S. officinalis, has been used to make soap. [5] It contains saponins, and a liquid soap can be produced by soaking the leaves in water. [2] This soap is still used to clean delicate antique tapestries. [6] It is also sometimes stated that it is used as an emulsifier in Turkish delight confections, but this is a case of double confusion. The roots of plants in genus Gypsophila are used to make the Turkish confection helva and Saponaria species are not used. [7]
Saponaria species are eaten by the larvae of some butterflies and moths, including the Lychnis and Coleophora saponariella, which is exclusive to the genus.
There are thirty [4] [8] to forty [2] [9] [10] species in the genus.
Plants of the World Online accepts 39 species: [1]