Saponaria

Saponaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Asia and Europe, and are commonly known as soapworts.<ref name=fna>Template:EFloras</ref> They are herbaceous perennials and annuals, some with woody bases. The flowers are abundant, five-petalled and usually in shades of pink<ref name=RHSAZ>Template:Cite book</ref> or white.<ref name=fna/> 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.<ref name=RHSAZ/> It is also related to Gypsophila, but its calyx is cylindrical rather than bell-shaped.<ref name=pak>Template:EFloras</ref>

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.<ref name=fna/> The genus name Saponaria derives from the Latin sapo ("soap") and -aria ("pertaining to"),<ref name=fna/> and at least one species, S. officinalis, has been used to make soap.<ref name=AZPLA>Template:Cite book</ref> It contains saponins, and a liquid soap can be produced by soaking the leaves in water.<ref name=fna/> This soap is still used to clean delicate antique tapestries.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

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

There are thirty<ref name=pak/><ref name=china>Template:EFloras</ref> to forty<ref name=fna/><ref name=jurg>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Jepson eFlora</ref> species in the genus.

Plants of the World Online accepts 39 species:<ref name="POWO">Template:Cite POWO</ref>

External links

• Saponaria. ITIS.