Minuartia

Minuartia is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as sandworts in the familyCaryophyllaceae.

Minuartias are small annual or perennial plants which grow in otherwise inhospitable conditions such as on rocky ledges and in stony soil. Species are distributed in Eurasia and parts of Africa, including Europe, the Mediterranean region, northern and eastern Africa, the Caucasus, western and central Asia, Japan, and Far Eastern Russia.

Many Minuartia species were formerly classed in the genus Arenaria, and the obsolete genus Alsine. In 2014, the polyphyleticMinuartiasensu lato was recircumscribed, with many of the species transferred to other genera, including Cherleria, Eremogone, Facchinia, Mcneillia, Minuartiella, Mononeuria, Pseudocherleria, Rhodalsine, Sabulina, and Triplateia. Minuartiasensu stricto 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 (1693–1768), a Spanish botanist and pharmacist.