''Minuartia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s commonly known as

sandwort Sandwort is the common name of several flowering plants in the carnation family, which may be members of the following genera: *'' Arenaria'' *''Minuartia'' *''Moehringia ''Moehringia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllacea ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon order Caryophyllales in the APG III system, alongside 33 other families, including Amaranthaceae, Cactacea ...

. Minuartias are small annual or perennial plants which grow in otherwise inhospitable conditions such as on rocky ledges and in stony soil. The genus is widely distributed in the

northern hemisphere The Northern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that is north of the Equator. For other planets in the Solar System, north is defined as being in the same celestial hemisphere relative to the invariable plane of the solar system as Earth's Nort ...

, mainly distributed in Europe, in the Mediterranean region, and north Africa, southwest Asia, and the

Caucasus Mountains The Caucasus Mountains, : pronounced * hy, Կովկասյան լեռներ, : pronounced * az, Qafqaz dağları, pronounced * rus, Кавка́зские го́ры, Kavkázskiye góry, kɐfˈkasːkʲɪje ˈɡorɨ * tr, Kafkas Dağla ...

. Many ''Minuartia'' species were formerly classed in the genus '' Arenaria'', and the obsolete genus ''Alsine''. In 2014, the

polyphyletic A polyphyletic group is an assemblage of organisms or other evolving elements that is of mixed evolutionary origin. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as homoplasies, which are explained as a result of converg ...

''Minuartia'' ''

sensu lato ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular co ...

'' was recircumscribed, with many of the species transferred to other genera, including ''

Cherleria ''Cherleria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon order Caryophyllales in the A ...

'', ''

Eremogone ''Eremogone'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to western North America, northern Asia, eastern Europe and northeastern Africa. Attempts to resolve taxonomic relationships within the Caryophyllaceae have result ...

'', ''

Facchinia ''Facchinia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the pink and carnation family Caryophyllaceae, native to the Pyrenees and the Alps. Many species in this genus were previously placed in ''Minuartia ''Minuartia'' is a genus of flowering plants c ...

'', ''

Mcneillia ''Mcneillia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon order Caryophyllales ...

'', '' Minuartiella'', ''

Mononeuria ''Mononeuria'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon order Caryophyllales ...

'', '' Pseudocherleria'', ''

Rhodalsine ''Rhodalsine'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon order Caryophyllales ...

'', '' Sabulina'', and ''

Triplateia ''Triplateia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon order Caryophyllale ...

''. ''Minuartia'' ''

sensu stricto ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular co ...

'' is characterized by the following features: leaves linear-setaceous; 5 acute sepals with 3, 5, or 9-veins; 5 white petals; 3 styles, forming 3-parted capsules. The genus was named for

Juan Minuart ''Juan'' is a given name, the Spanish and Manx versions of ''John''. It is very common in Spain and in other Spanish-speaking communities around the world and in the Philippines, and also (pronounced differently) in the Isle of Man. In Spanish, t ...

(1693–1768), a Spanish botanist and pharmacist.

Selected species

*''

Minuartia arctica ''Minuartia'' is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as sandworts in the family Caryophyllaceae. Minuartias are small annual or perennial plants which grow in otherwise inhospitable conditions such as on rocky ledges and in stony soil. Th ...

'' – Arctic sandwort *''

Minuartia austromontana ''Minuartia'' is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as sandworts in the family Caryophyllaceae. Minuartias are small annual or perennial plants which grow in otherwise inhospitable conditions such as on rocky ledges and in stony soil. Th ...

'' – Columbian sandwort *''

Minuartia biflora ''Cherleria biflora'' is a species of plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is known as mountain stitchwort. Description The species is perennial, and forms mats and cushions. It flowers from June to August. Range ''Cherleria biflora'' is fou ...

'' – mountain sandwort *''

Minuartia bosniaca ''Minuartia bosniaca'', or Bosnian sandwort, in Bosnian bosanska mišjakinjica, is endemic plant at East Dinaric mountains. Itbelongs to family of ''Caryophyllaceae'' (carnations). Description Bosnian sandwort is a perennial herb with mild t ...

'' – Bosnian sandwort *''

Minuartia californica ''Minuartia californica,'' commonly known as ''California sandwort,'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to valleys, foothills, and mountains in California and Oregon. It grows in many types of habitat, i ...

'' – California sandwort *''

Minuartia caroliniana ''Minuartia'' is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as sandworts in the family Caryophyllaceae. Minuartias are small annual or perennial plants which grow in otherwise inhospitable conditions such as on rocky ledges and in stony soil. Th ...

'' – pinebarren sandwort *'' Minuartia cherlerioides'' *''

Minuartia cismontana ''Minuartia cismontana'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common name cismontane minuartia. It is native to Oregon and northern and central California, where it occurs in woodland and chaparral habitat, ...

'' *''

Minuartia cumberlandensis ''Minuartia cumberlandensis'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the Caryophyllaceae, pink family known by the common names Cumberland stitchwort and Cumberland sandwort. It is endemism, endemic to the Cumberland Plateau near the Big South F ...

'' – Cumberland sandwort *'' Minuartia dawsonensis'' – rock sandwort *'' Minuartia decumbens'' – Lassicus sandwort *'' Minuartia dirphya'' *'' Minuartia douglasii'' – Douglas' sandwort *''

Minuartia drummondii ''Minuartia'' is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as sandworts in the family Caryophyllaceae. Minuartias are small annual or perennial plants which grow in otherwise inhospitable conditions such as on rocky ledges and in stony soil. Th ...

'' – Drummond's sandwort *'' Minuartia elegans'' *'' Minuartia filiorum'' – threadbranch sandwort *''

Minuartia gerardii ''Minuartia'' is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as sandworts in the family (biology), family Caryophyllaceae. Minuartias are small annual or perennial plants which grow in otherwise inhospitable conditions such as on rocky ledges and ...

'' *'' Minuartia glabra'' – Appalachian sandwort *'' Minuartia godfreyi'' – Godfrey's sandwort *'' Minuartia graminifolia'' (syn. ''Alsine rosani'') *''

Minuartia groenlandica ''Minuartia groenlandica'', the Greenland stitchwort or mountain stitchwort, Appalachian stitchwort, mountain sandwort, smooth mountain sandwort, and smooth sandwort is a rare perennialMinuartia howellii'' – Howell's sandwort *'' Minuartia juniperina'' *'' Minuartia krascheninnikovii'' *'' Minuartia laricifolia'' *'' Minuartia macrantha'' – House's sandwort *'' Minuartia macrocarpa'' – longpod sandwort *'' Minuartia marcescens'' – serpentine sandwort *''

Minuartia michauxii ''Minuartia'' is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as sandworts in the family Caryophyllaceae. Minuartias are small annual or perennial plants which grow in otherwise inhospitable conditions such as on rocky ledges and in stony soil. Th ...

'' – rock sandwort *'' Minuartia muscorum'' – Dixie sandwort *'' Minuartia nuttallii'' – Nuttall's sandwort *'' Minuartia obtusiloba'' – twinflower sandwort *''

Minuartia patula ''Minuartia patula'', common names pitcher's stitchwort or lime-barren sandwort, is an annual plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to sections of the eastern and central United States, primarily the lower Mississippi Valley, the sou ...

'' – pitcher's sandwort *''

Minuartia pusilla ''Minuartia pusilla'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common names annual sandwort and dwarf stitchwort. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to southern California to Utah, from ...

'' – annual sandwort *''

Minuartia recurva ''Minuartia recurva'', the recurved sandwort or sickle-leaved sandwort, is a rare tufted, calcifugous chamaephyte perennial flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It blooms from late spring to the end of summer. Description This perenni ...

'' – recurved sandwort, sickle-leaved sandwort *'' Minuartia rosei'' – peanut sandwort *'' Minuartia rossii'' – Ross' sandwort *''

Minuartia rubella ''Minuartia rubella'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by several common names, including beautiful sandwort, mountain sandwort, Arctic sandwort, and boreal stitchwort. It has a circumboreal distribution, occur ...

'' *'' Minuartia sedoides'' – mossy cyphel; dwarf cherleria. Confined to high mountains in Europe. *'' Minuartia sintenisii'' – Troodos sandwort *'' Minuartia smejkalii'' – endemic species to the central Bohemia / Czech Republic *'' Minuartia stolonifera'' *'' Minuartia stricta'' – bog sandwort *'' Minuartia tenella'' – slender sandwort *'' Minuartia uniflora'' *''

Minuartia verna ''Minuartia verna'' is a scarce species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, known by the common names spring sandwort and leadwort. It is a small mat-forming, perennial herb. Some authorities consider it a synonym of '' Sabulina ver ...

'' – spring sandwort *'' Minuartia viscosa'' *'' Minuartia yukonensis'' – Yukon sandwort

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q163073 Caryophyllaceae genera