''Saponaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Asia and Europe, and are commonly known as soapworts. They are

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

perennials and annuals, some with woody bases. The flowers are abundant, five-petalled and usually in shades of pink or white. 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. It is also related to ''

Gypsophila ''Gypsophila'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae. They are native to Eurasia, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.calyx Calyx or calyce (plural "calyces"), from the Latin ''calix'' which itself comes from the Ancient Greek ''κάλυξ'' (''kálux'') meaning "husk" or "pod", may refer to: Biology * Calyx (anatomy), collective name for several cup-like structures ...

is cylindrical rather than bell-shaped. 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. The genus name ''Saponaria'' derives from the Latin ''sapo'' ("soap") and -''aria'' ("pertaining to"), and at least one species, ''S. officinalis'', has been used to make soap. It contains

saponin Saponins (Latin "sapon", soap + "-in", one of), also selectively referred to as triterpene glycosides, are bitter-tasting usually toxic plant-derived organic chemicals that have a foamy quality when agitated in water. They are widely distributed ...

s, and a liquid soap could be produced by soaking the leaves in water. This soap is still used to clean delicate antique tapestries. ''Saponaria'' species are eaten by the larvae of some butterflies and moths, including the Lychnis and ''

Coleophora saponariella ''Coleophora saponariella'' is a moth of the family Coleophoridae. It is found from Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the ...

'', which is exclusive to the genus.

Diversity

There are thirty to forty species in the genus. Species include: *'' Saponaria bargyliana'' *'' Saponaria bellidifolia'' *'' Saponaria caespitosa'' *'' Saponaria calabrica'' – Adriatic soapwort *''

Saponaria jagelii ''Saponaria jagelii'' is a species of plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is endemic to the island of Elafonisos in Greece. Its natural habitat is dune vegetation. It is threatened by habitat loss. References Caryophyllaceae Cr ...

'' *''

Saponaria karapinarensis ''Saponaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Asia and Europe, and are commonly known as soapworts. They are herbaceous perennials and annuals, some with woody bases. The flowers are abundant, five-petalled ...

'' *''

Saponaria kotschyi ''Saponaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Asia and Europe, and are commonly known as soapworts. They are herbaceous perennials and annuals, some with woody bases. The flowers are abundant, five-petalled ...

'' *'' Saponaria lutea'' *''

Saponaria ocymoides ''Saponaria ocymoides'', the rock soapwort or tumbling Ted, is a species of semi- evergreen perennial flowering plant belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae, native to south western and southern central Europe. Etymology The Latin specifi ...

'' – rock soapwort, tumbling-Ted *'' Saponaria officinalis'' – bouncingbet, sweet Betty *'' Saponaria pamphylica'' *''

Saponaria pumila ''Saponaria pumila'' is a species of perennial plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, commonly known as dwarf soapwort. It is native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a se ...

'' *''

Saponaria pumilio ''Saponaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Asia and Europe, and are commonly known as soapworts. They are herbaceous perennials and annuals, some with woody bases. The flowers are abundant, five-petalled ...

'' – pygmy pink *''

Saponaria sicula ''Saponaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Asia and Europe, and are commonly known as soapworts. They are herbaceous perennials and annuals, some with woody bases. The flowers are abundant, five-petalled ...

'' *''

Saponaria suffruticosa ''Saponaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Asia and Europe, and are commonly known as soapworts. They are herbaceous perennials and annuals, some with woody bases. The flowers are abundant, five-petalle ...

References

External links

''Saponaria''.
ITIS. {{Taxonbar, from=Q157500 Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae genera Saponaceous plants Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus