Saponaria

Saponaria
Saponaria ocymoides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Saponaria
L. (1753)
Species

30-40, see text

Synonyms[1]
  • Bootia Neck. (1768), nom. illeg.
  • Pleioneura Rech.f. (1951)
  • Proteinia (Ser.) Rchb. (1841)
  • Smegmathamnium Fenzl ex Rchb. (1844)
  • Spanizium Griseb. (1843)

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.

Diversity

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There are thirty[4][8] to forty[2][9][10] species in the genus.

Plants of the World Online accepts 39 species:[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Saponaria L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Thieret, John W.; Rabeler, Richard K. (2005). "Saponaria". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 5. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  3. ^ a b RHS A–Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  4. ^ a b Ghazanfar, Shahina A.; Nasir, Yasin J. "Saponaria". Flora of Pakistan – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  5. ^ Coombes, A. J. (2012). The A to Z of Plant Names. USA: Timber Press. p. 265. ISBN 9781604691962.
  6. ^ Elliot, Doug (July 1995). Wild Roots: Forager's Guide to the Edible and Medicinal Roots, Tubers, Corms and Rhizomes of North America. Inner Traditions / Bear & Co. ISBN 978-0892815388.
  7. ^ Işın, Priscilla Mary (2013). Sherbet & Spice : the complete story of Turkish sweets and desserts (1st ed.). New York: I.B. Tauris. pp. 128, 270. ISBN 978-1-84885-898-5. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  8. ^ Lu, Dequan; Lidén, Magnus; Oxelman, Bengt. "Saponaria". Flora of China. Vol. 6 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  9. ^ Jürgens, Andreas; Witt, Taina; Gottsberger, Gerhard (2003). "Flower scent composition in Dianthus and Saponaria species (Caryophyllaceae) and its relevance for pollination biology and taxonomy" (PDF). Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 31 (4): 345–57. Bibcode:2003BioSE..31..345J. doi:10.1016/S0305-1978(02)00173-4.
  10. ^ Hartman, Ronald L.; Rabeler, Richard K. (2012). "Saponaria". In Jepson Flora Project (ed.). Jepson eFlora. The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley.
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